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HOBART 

THE  STORY  OF  A 
HUNDRED  YEARS 

1822-1922 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


GENEVA,  NEW  YORK 

Published  by  Hobart  College 
At  the  Press  of  W.  F.  Humphrey  ’82 

1922 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2018  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/hobartstoryofhunOOhoba 


23 


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PREFACE 

On  the  occasion  of  the  One  Hundredth  Anni- 
versary  of  the  granting  of  a  provisional  college 
v  charter  to  Geneva  Academy  by  the  Regents  of 
the  University  of  the  State  of  New  York,  April 
10,  1822,  the  College  has  deemed  it  appropriate 
to  publish  a  collection  of  documents  relating  to 
its  foundation  and  the  early  years  of  its  corpo¬ 
rate  existence.  Some  of  these  documents  were 
printed  by  Bishop  Perry  in  the  excellent  account 
of  the  College  which  he  contributed  to  W.  H. 
McIntosh’s  History  of  Ontario  County,  Philadel¬ 
phia,  1876.  But  that  mighty  folio  has  been  long 
out  of  print,  and  almost  all  the  papers  here  pre¬ 
sented  are  now  inaccessible.  Not  a  few  are  here 
made  public  for  the  first  time. 

In  the  preface  to  Hobart:  the  Story  of  a  Hun¬ 
dred  Years,  published  in  1921,  the  hope  was  ex¬ 
pressed  that  a  more  comprehensive  draft  of  that 
<0  historical  sketch,  with  important  documents, 
might  be  brought  out  this  year.  It  has  been 
thought  better  to  offer  merely  this  Documentary 
Appendix,  which  together  with  the  history  should 
furnish  a  fairly  adequate  view  of  Hobart’s  past. 
The  arrangement  of  the  documents  follows,  as 
closely  as  circumstances  permit,  that  of  the  his¬ 
torical  sketch. 

E.  J.  W. 

April,  1922.  M.  H.  T. 


The  pages  are  here  numbered  continuously  with  the 
historical  sketch,  to  which  this  Appendix  belongs,  and  with 
which  some  copies  of  it  will  be  bound. 


LIST  OF  DOCUMENTS 

SECTION  I 

Geneva  Academy  Becomes  a  College 

1.  Letter  from  the  Rev.  Amos  G.  Baldwin  to  President  Hale 

describing  the  grant  from  Trinity  Church  to  Fairfield  Acade¬ 
my,  subsequently  transferred  to  Geneva  Academy. 

2.  Subscriptions  to  Geneva  Academy,  Jan.  11,  1813. 

3.  Charter  of  Geneva  Academy,  March  29,  1813. 

4.  Resolutions  relative  to  the  discontinuance  of  Geneva  Academy. 

5.  Statement  of  Thomas  Davies  Burrall  relative  to  Bishop 

Hobart’s  plan  for  establishing  a  college  at  Geneva. 

6.  Bishop  Hobart  selects  the  College  site,  1820. 

7.  Subscription  Paper  for  the  erection  of  Geneva  Hall,  February 

15,  1821. 

8.  Colonel  Troup’s  offer  of  land  at  Mile  Point  as  an  alternative 

site  for  the  College,  March  26,  1821. 

9.  Report  of  the  professors  of  the  Branch  Theological  School 

at  Geneva,  1821. 

10.  Letter  from  the  Rev.  D.  McDonald  and  the  Rev.  Orin  Clark 

to  Bishop  Hobart  relative  to  the  establishment  of  a  college 
in  Geneva,  Dec.  13,  1821. 

11.  Advertisement  of  Geneva  Academy,  Dec.  29,  1821. 

12.  Petition  for  a  College  Charter  for  Geneva  Academy,  Jan. 

22,  1822. 

13.  Letter  from  Bishop  Hobart  to  Lieut. -Gov.  Tayler  urging  the 

granting  of  a  College  Charter  to  Geneva  Academy,  Mar. 
13,  1822. 

14.  Certification  of  the  granting  of  a  provisional  College  Charter 

to  Geneva  Academy  on  April  10,  1822. 

15.  Letter  from  Bishop  Hobart  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  McDonald  relative 

to  securing  funds  and  selecting  officers  for  the  new  college, 
April  15,  1822. 

16.  Certificates  employed  in  raising  funds  to  secure  a  permanent 

charter. 

17.  Report  to  the  Assembly,  Feb.  21,  1824,  recommending  a 

grant  to  the  College. 

18.  Petition  to  the  Regents  for  a  permanent  Charter,  Jan.  1,  1825  . 

The  Permanent  Charter,  granted  Feb.  8,  1825,  is  printed, 
with  amendments,  at  the  end  of  this  Appendix. 

19.  Report  to  the  Senate,  Feb.  23,  1825,  recommending  a  grant 

of  $50,000  to  Geneva  College. 

20.  Instrument  renouncing  claims  on  General  Theological  Semi¬ 

nary,  June  24,  1826. 

21.  First  Commencement  of  Geneva  College,  Aug.  2,  1826. 


SECTION  II 


The  Church  and  The  College 

1.  Extract  from  Bishop  Hobart’s  Address  to  the  Convention  of 

the  Diocese,  Oct.  17,  1821. 

2.  Bishop  Hobart’s  Address,  and  the  Resolutions  of  the  Con¬ 

vention,  concerning  the  endowment  of  Geneva  College, 
Oct.  15,  1822. 

3.  Application  to  the  Wardens  and  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church, 

New  York,  April  22,  1847. 

4.  Minute  and  Resolution  adopted  by  the  Corporation  of  Trinity 

Church,  New  York,  May  12,  1848. 

5.  Extracts  from  President  Hale’s  letter  to  the  Rev.  William 

Berrian,  Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York,  May  26, 
1851. 

6.  Resolution  adopted  by  the  Corporation  of  Trinity  Church 

in  response  to  a  second  appeal,  Nov.  14,  1851. 

SECTION  III 
The  English  Course 

1.  A  Course  of  Education  proposed  to  be  pursued  in  Geneva 

College,  March  1,  1824. 

2.  Observations  upon  the  Project  for  Establishing  Geneva 

College,  New  York,  1824. 

SECTION  IV 

Charter  of  Hobart  College 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


I.  Geneva  Academy  Becomes  a  College 

1.  LETTER  FROM  THE  REV.  AMOS  G.  BALDWIN  TO 

PRESIDENT  HALE* 

DESCRIBING  THE  GRANT  FROM  TRINITY  CHURCH  TO 

FAIRFIELD  ACADEMY 

To  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Hale ,  D.D. , 

President  of  the  College  of  Geneva. 

Sir: 

Five  years  ago  Mr.  W.  S.  De Zeng expressed  tome  a 
wish  that  I  would  put  into  his  hands  a  bundle  of  papers 
which  were  in  my  possession,  relating  to  the  grants  of 
Trinity  Church,  New  York,  to  the  Academy  in  Fairfield, 
Herkimer  Co.,  which  grants  being  transferred  with  addi¬ 
tions,  were  the  foundation  of  Geneva  College.  Mr.  De 
Zeng’s  object  in  asking  for  the  papers  was  to  draw  up 
from  them  some  account  of  the  events  which  led  to  the 
establishment  of  Geneva  College.  No  other  person  than 
myself  can  write  the  history  of  those  early  events,  for  this 
reason:  The  design  of  obtaining  the  grants  from  Trinity 
Church  to  Fairfield  Academy  originated  in  my  own  mind 
and  was  carried  into  effect  chiefly  by  my  instrumentality; 
as  may  be  seen  in  the  papers  in  my  possession  and  which 
will  be  quoted  in  the  following  pages. 

The  beginning  of  the  gathering  of  an  Episcopal  Church 
in  Fairfield  was  as  early  as  Dec.  1806,  just  after  I  received 

*  MS.  in  the  Archives  of  the  College. 

65 


66  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


deacon’s  orders  in  Utica  from  the  hands  of  Bishop  Moore, 
on  his  first  visitation  into  Western  New  York.  There  were 
at  that  time  only  two  Episcopal  Clergymen  in  this  half 
of  the  State,  now  the  Western  Diocese,  Mr.  Phelps  and 
Mr.  J.  Judd.  The  latter  was  in  Utica,  and  removed  to 
Johnstown  on  my  receiving  orders,  and  I  took  charge  of 
the  church  in  Utica  and  continued  there  till  the  end  of 
May  1818. 

It  was  some  years  before  another  Episcopal  Clergyman 
came  into  Western  New  York.  During  six  and  a  half 
years  I  was  half  of  the  time  in  Utica,  and  the  other  half 
in  nearly  all  the  places  around  Utica,  where  are  now  nine 
Episcopal  Clergymen.  The  number  of  the  clergy  in  the 
State  and  Union  was  small  and  few  were  coming  into 
Western  New  York,  then  fast  rising  toward  the  greatness 
which  it  has  now  attained.  My  own  labors  were  too 
extended,  and  I  saw^  the  necessity  of  training  up  “the 
sons  of  the  soil”  in  our  own  institutions  in  order  to  secure 
them  to  the  Church  and  provide  ministers  for  her  altars. 
The  schools  were  everywhere  in  the  hands  of  non-episco¬ 
palians  and  we  had  few  clergymen  near  the  Academies  which 
were  flourishing  in  Western  New  York,  and  there  was  not 
a  chartered  College  in  this  part  of  the  State. 

The  Academy  in  Fairfield  was  among  the  most  flourish¬ 
ing  this  side  of  Albany.  I  began  my  labors  there  in  Dec. 
1806.  In  1811  *we  made  our  first  effort  to  obtain  aid  from 
Trinity  Church,  New  York,  to  sustain  a  clergyman  in  that 
place,  our  application  being  grounded  on  the  influence 
which  the  services  of  a  clergyman  would  have  on  the  minds 
of  the  youth  educated  in  the  Academy  there.  I  had  performed 
service  there  only  one  sixth  of  the  time.  Writing  to  Bishop 
Moore,  Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  under  date  of  Oct. 
8th,  1811,  I  said,  “We  do  feel,  my  venerable  Diocesan, 
that  in  asking  aid  for  the  Church  in  Fairfield,  we  are 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


67 


pleading  the  cause  of  the  Church  in  the  western  district 
of  this  State.  The  Academy  in  that  place  is  very  flourish¬ 
ing,  and  were  a  clergyman  of  learning  and  piety  settled 
there,  the  young  men,  educated  in  that  seminary,  would 
have  an  opportunity  of  becoming  acquainted  with  the 
Church,  and  the  advantages  to  the  Church  at  large  would 
be  great.”  This  was  the  first  application  to  Trinity 
Church,  New  York,  which  had  a  bearing  on  the  events 
which  concurred  in  obtaining  the  patronage  of  Trinity 
Church  to  Geneva  College.  And  you  see  what  were  our 
enlarged  views  at  that  early  period. 

Within  two  months  of  the  date  of  the  letter  from  which 
the  above  extract  is  made  the  Principal  of  the  Academy, 
the  Rev.  Caleb  Alexander,  resigned  his  place  in  that  in¬ 
stitution.  Our  previous  action  to  obtain  aid  for  the 
Church  there,  as  stated  in  the  above  extract,  had  prepared 
our  minds  for  making  the  effort  to  fill  the  vacancy  with 
an  Episcopal  Clergyman.  I  made  the  proposition  to  the 
trustees  of  the  Academy,  which  received  their  approbation; 
and  the  next  April,  1812,  I  went  to  New  York  with  a 
petition  from  the  trustees  of  Fairfield  Academy  to  Trinity 
Church,  the  nature  and  object  of  which  will  appear  from  the 
following  extracts  made  from  that  paper :  “Your  petition¬ 
ers  by  two  resolutions  of  the  board  passed  the  12th  inst. 
(April  1812)  Resolved  unanimously,  That  an  application 
be  made  to  the  honorable  the  Corporation  of  Trinity  Church 
in  the  city  of  New  York  for  a  competent  fund  to  obtain  a 
charter  for  a  College  agreeable  to  an  ordinance  of  the 
Regents  of  the  University,  upon  condition  that  the  Presi¬ 
dent  of  said  College,  if  a  charter  should  be  obtained,  shall 
forever  thereafter  be  an  Episcopal  Clergyman.  “Re¬ 
solved  unanimously,  That  in  case  the  honorable  the 
Corporation  of  Trinity  Church  should  not  see  fit  to  endow 
this  Institution  to  a  sufficient  amount  to  obtain  a  Charter, 


68  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


that  they  be  humbly  requested  to  afford  such  endowment 
as  will  be  sufficient  to  support  the  Principal  of  the  In¬ 
stitution  upon  conditions  as  aforesaid,  that  he  be  ever 
thereafter  an  Episcopal  Clergyman;  and  that  the  Rev. 
Amos  G.  Baldwin  be  appointed  to  present  a  petition  to 
Trinity  Church  for  the  purposes  contained  in  the  aforesaid 
resolutions.” 

I  spent  some  three  weeks  in  New  York  but  could  not  get 
the  petition  of  the  trustees  of  Fairfield  Academy  presented 
to  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  altho  it  was  accompanied 
by  another  of  similar  import  from  the  Church  in  Fairfield. 
Such  was  the  favor  which  the  application,  stated  in  the 
above  resolutions,  received  from  the  heads  of  the  Church, 
both  clerical  and  lay. 

No  farther  effort  was  made  till  the  next  autumn.  I 
make  the  following  extract  from  a  letter  written  by  me 
to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Beach,  assistant  Rector  of  Trinity  Church, 
dated  New  York,  Oct.  12th,  1812:  “You  know  the  anxiety 
which  I  felt  to  obtain  an  Episcopal  Clergyman  for  Fairfield, 
who  should  be  the  Rector  of  the  Church  and  the  Principal 
of  the  Academy  in  that  place.  This  object  is  certainly 
of  great  importance  to  the  general  interest  of  the  Church 
in  the  Western  District  of  the  State.  We  are  in  great  want 
of  a  Seminary  of  Learning  in  that  quarter  in  which  the 
young  men,  designed  for  the  ministry,  may  be  educated 
and  to  which  Episcopalians  generally  may  send  their 
sons.  And,  if  the  object  which  I  have  in  view  can  be 
obtained,  there  will  be  a  nursery  of  the  Church,  and  we 
may  expect  that  the  facility  of  obtaining  an  education  will 
invite  many  young  men  in  that  quarter  to  prepare  for  the 
ministry  of  the  Church,  who  will  otherwise  never  enter  it. 
These  considerations  press  so  forcibly  upon  my  mind  that  I 
do  not  feel  myself  at  liberty  to  cease  my  exertions  to  obtain 
an  Episcopal  minister  at  Fairfield  till  I  have  done  all 
that  lies  in  me  to  obtain  that  important  object.”  .  .  .  . 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


69 


Thus  the  matter  stood  on  the  12th  of  October,  1812, 
on  my  leaving  New  York  to  return  to  Utica.  About 
that  time  some  new  features  of  the  object  which  we  had 
in  view  came  into  my  mind  as  I  was  crossing  the  high 
lands  which  lie  between  Utica  and  Fairfield,  returning 
from  the  latter  to  the  former  place,  which  I  communicated 
to  Dr.  Bowden  of  Columbia  College  under  date  of  October 
20th,  having  previously  submitted  my  views  to  leading 
trustees  of  the  Academy  and  obtained  their  approbation. 
I  wrote  to  Dr.  Bowden:  “The  trustees  of  the  Academy 
authorize  me  to  say,  that  they  will  give  the  Principal 
thereof  $550  per  annum  and  allow  him  to  instruct  four 
divinity  scholars  free  of  charges  for  tuition.  The  other 
part  of  the  plan  is,  that  Trinity  Church  give  to  the  Church 
in  Fairfield  $250  per  annum,  and  to  the  clergyman  who 
may  be  settled  there  $250  as  theological  instructor  in  the 
institution,  and  that  he  divide  among  the  divinity  scholars 
$50  per  annum  in  the  proportion  he  may  think  proper. 
You  will  instantly  see,  much  respected  Sir,  the  advantages 
of  this  plan,  and  I  flatter  myself  that  the  vestry  of  Trinity 
Church  will  act  on  it.  About  one-half  of  the  last  hundred 
pounds  will  be  directly  appropriated  to  the  educating 
of  young  men  for  the  ministry  and  some  provision  will  be 
made  for  keeping  four  constantly  at  school.  And  I  be¬ 
lieve  you  will  think  with  me  that  this  will  be  but  a  small 
part  of  the  advantages  which  the  Church  will  derive  from 
this  plan.  We  shall  have  in  the  Western  District  a  nur¬ 
sery  of  the  Church,  and  Episcopalians,  not  only  in  this 
district,  but  in  other  places  also,  will  be  induced  to  send 
their  sons  there  to  receive  their  education. ”  Dr.  Bowden 
entered  warmly  into  these  views  and  was  active  in  carry¬ 
ing  my  plan  into  effect. 

The  vestry  of  the  Church  in  Fairfield  presented  a  peti¬ 
tion  to  Trinity  Church,  embodying  my  plan,  which  was 


70  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


written,  I  think,  by  myself.  I  wrote  also  to  Thos.  L. 
Ogden,  Esqr.,  an  efficient  member  of  the  vestry,  stating 
to  him  what  was  the  prayer  of  the  Church  in  Fairfield, 
and  soliciting  his  aid.  In  my  communication  to  that 
gentleman,  dated  Dec.  2nd,  I  said:  ‘‘The  Episcopal  Church 
in  America  is  in  great  want  of  Seminaries  of  Learning 
under  her  control,  and  the  paucity  of  her  ministers  and  her 
depressed  state  is  more  owing  to  this  than  to  any  other 
cause.  A  respectable  institution  may  now  be  obtained 
and  we  are  solicitous  to  secure  it.  I  hope  your  honorable 
corporation  will  be  pleased  to  grant  the  prayer  of  the 
Church  in  Fairfield.  It  is  very  desirable  and  even  neces¬ 
sary  that  the  vestry  attend  to  this  object  immediately, 
as  the  trustees  of  the  institution  are  most  anxious  to 
obtain  a  Principal.’ ’ 

The  vestry  of  Trinity  Church  acted  immediately;  the 
plan  which  I  originated  and  which  was  communicated 
to  that  body  and  to  distinguished  individuals  in  the 
Church,  meeting  with  warm  and  general  approbation. 
I  received  letters  from  the  Honorable  Messrs.  Robert 
Troup  and  Peter  Augustus  Jay,  and  from  Bishop  Hobart; 
from  the  two  first  dated  Dec.  17th,  1812,  and  from  the 
latter  dated  the  26th,  from  which  I  will  make  extracts. 

Col.  Troup  writes:  “As  the  case  of  the  Church  at  Fair- 
field  appears  to  be  more  pressing  I  write  this  to  tell  you  that 
the  committee  (of  the  vestry)  have  agreed  to  report  a 
grant  of  $500  per  annum,  for  seven  years,  to  that  Church, 
upon  the  conditions  stated  in  your  late  communications.” 

Mr.  Jay  writes:  “We  (a  committee  of  the  vestry) 
yesterday  agreed  to  report  to  the  vestry  a  resolution  for 
granting  to  Fairfield  Church  for  nine  (seven)  years  the 
sum  of  $500  annually,  on  the  conditions  which  you  have 
proposed.” 

And  Bishop  Hobart:  “The  Committee  on  the  Church 
petitions  have  agreed  to  report  to  the  vestry  in  favor  of  a 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


71 


grant  of  $500  per  annum  to  the  Church  and  Academy  at 
Fairfield,  on  the  terms  proposed  by  you,  for  seven  years. 
There  is  little  doubt  that  the  report  will  be  agreed  to  by 
the  vestry  at  their  next  meeting,  the  first  Monday  in 
January  next.  And  at  the  end  of  the  seven  years,  if  the 
plan  should  answer,  I  have  no  doubt  the  grant  will  be 
renewed.” 

The  vestry  of  Trinity  Church  made  the  grant  which 
their  committee  proposed . 

The  next  object  was  to  obtain  a  Principal  of  the  Acad¬ 
emy  and  Rector  of  the  Church.  In  this  matter  Bishop 
Hobart  and  Dr.  Bowden  took  an  active  but  unsuccessful 
part.  I  wrote  to  the  Rev.  Bethel  Judd  of  Norwalk, 
Conn.,  under  date  of  March  9th,  1813,  soliciting  him  to 
fill  those  places.  Mr.  Judd  visited  Fairfield  in  April 
and  conditionally  agreed  to  accept  of  the  offers  made  him.* 
But  he  perceived  that  the  task  would  be  great  without  an 
assistant  in  the  Academy.  I  met  him  at  Fairfield  and  we 
sat  down  together  and  made  the  draft  of  a  letter  to  Col. 
Troup,  partly  in  my  handwriting  and  partly  in  his,  which 
I  copied  and  signed,  and  Mr.  Judd  delivered  in  person, 
asking  of  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church  an  additional  grant 
of  $250  toward  the  payment  of  an  assistant  teacher. 

*“The  Rev.  Bethel  Judd  was  the  first  principal  appointed  under 
this  new  arrangement,  but  in  consequence  of  his  removal  to  Con¬ 
necticut,  he  ‘failed  to  fulfill  his  contract.’ 

“The  Rev.  Virgil  H.  Barber  subsequently  entered  upon  the  charge 
of  the  academy,  being  succeeded  in  January,  1817,  by  the  Rev. 
Daniel  McDonald,  at  that  time  rector  of  St.  Peter’s,  Auburn.  With 
his  incumbency  began  a  new  epoch  in  the  history  of  the  institution 
founded  by  the  labors  of  Baldwin,  and  shortly  to  be  developed,  on 
its  transplanting  to  another  site,  into  the  free  ‘college’  planned 
by  the  Fairfield  academy  trustees  at  the  time  of  their  first  application 
for  the  aid  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York.”  The  History  of  Hobart 
College,  Geneva ,  N.  Y by  William  Stevens  Perry,  D.  D.,  LL.D. 


72  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


What  we  asked  was  in  due  time  granted,  conditioned  as 
the  former  grant,  namely,  that  four  youth,  designing 
to  enter  the  ministry,  being  recommended  by  the  ecclesi¬ 
astical  authority  of  the  Diocese,  should  receive  their  tuition 
in  the  Academy  free  of  charges. 

Thus  was  the  second  grant  to  the  academy  in  Fairfield 
obtained  from  Trinity  Church,  both  amounting  to  $750 
per  annum,  for  seven  years,  with  a  provision  for  the  tuition 
of  eight  young  men,  designing  themselves  for  the  ministry. 
....  I  have  brought  down  the  history  of  the  Academy  in 
Fairfield  as  far  as  I  intended  when  I  sat  down  to  write. 
....  I  removed  from  Utica  in  May  1818,  up  to  which  time  I 
took  an  interest  in  the  Institution  at  Fairfield,  in  which 
several  of  our  clergy  were  educated,  and  among  these  are 
some  of  the  most  efficient.  Thus  was  my  object  obtained. 

The  patronage  of  Trinity  Church  to  the  Church  and 
Academy  in  Fairfield  was  transferred  to  Geneva  after 
my  removal  from  Utica,  in  which  transfer  I  had  no  agency. 

A  part  of  the  Library  which  I  collected  in  New  York, 
Albany,  and  Utica,  to  the  value  of  $480,  for  the  use  of 
students  in  Divinity  and  the  Clergy,  is  now  in  the  College. 

So  much  I  did,  Mr.  President,  in  days  forgotten,  for  the 
College  over  wdiich  you  preside  with  great  honor  to  your¬ 
self  and  usefulness  to  the  Church  and  the  community. 

I  am,  with  great  respect  and  esteem, 

Your  humble  servant, 

Geneva ,  Dec.  3rd ,  181+0.  Amos  G.  Baldwin 


2.  SUBSCRIPTIONS  TO  GENEVA  ACADEMY* 

Whereas  the  general  diffusion  of  knowledge  in  a  Country 
where  the  Government  emanates  immediate  from  the 
people  is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  preservation  of 


*From  the  original  Subscription  Paper  in  the  College  Archives. 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


73 


liberty  and  an  Academy  having  for  many  years  been 
established  in  the  Village  of  Geneva  and  been  in  a  consid¬ 
erable  degree  useful;  And  whereas  we  the  Subscribers 
are  confident  its  usefulness  &  respectability  may  be 
much  promoted  by  an  increase  of  its  funds  &  the  procur¬ 
ing  its  incorporation  under  the  Regents  of  the  University 
of  the  State  of  New -York  and  becoming  subject  to  the 
Visitation  of  the  said  Regents, — 

We  the  Subscribers  for  the  purpose  of  increasing  the 
funds  of  the  said  Academy  promise  severally  and  not  joint¬ 
ly  to  pay  to  the  Trustees  hereafter  to  be  appointed  for  the 
said  Academy  for  the  use  of  the  said  Academy  the  sums 
opposite  our  respective  names  or  to  secure  the  said  sum 
by  Mortgage  on  sufficient  Real  Estate  to  the  said  Trustees 
&  their  successors  forever  so  that  the  Interest  thereof 


shall  be  annually  paid  to  the  said  Trustees  &  their 
successors  forever  for  the  use  of  the  said  Academy  and 
default  thereof  the  Real  Estate  so  Mortgaged  on  which 
said  Interest  has  not  been  paid  may  be  sold  by  the  said 
Trustees  or  their  successors  &  the  said  sum  of  money 
with  the  Interest  so  secured  by  said  Mortgage  retained 
by  said  Trustees  with  the  Costs,  for  the  Use  of  the  said 
Academy. — (Signed)  January  11th,  1813. 


POLYDORE  B.  WlSNER.  .  . 

*H.  H.  Bogert . 

*R.  W.  Stoddard . 

*Samuel  Colt . 

*Wm.  Hortsen . 

*Wm.  Hortsen . 

* Jonathan  Doane . 

*Thos.  Lowthrop  &  Co. 

*James  Rees . 

*James  Carter . 


One  hundred  Dollars. 
One  hundred  Dollars. 
Fifty  Dollars. 

One  hundred  Dollars. 
Fifty  Dollars. 

Fifty  Dollars. 

One  hundred  Dollars. 
One  hundred  Dollars. 
One  hundred  Dollars. 
One  hundred  Dollars. 


* J ohn  Nicholas 
*David  Cook  .  .  , 
*  J  ohn  Woods  .  . 


One  hundred  Dollars. 
One  hundred  Dollars. 
One  hundred  Dollars. 


74  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


*Thomas  D.  Burrall.  .  Fifty  Dollars. 

Joseph  Stow .  Fifty  Dollars. 

*  Walter  Grieve .  Fifty  Dollars. 

*Robert  Scot .  Fifty  Dollars. 

*F.  A.  de  Zeng .  Fifty  Dollars  on  demand. 

*Wm.  Tippitts .  Fifty  Dollars. 

Abner  Cole .  Fifty  Dollars. 

*A.  Dox .  One  hundred  Dollars. 

$1600 

Mortgages  have  been  rec’d  from  all  except  three  not 
marked  agreeable  to  the  within  arrang’t. 

££  Jan .  1822.  H.  H.  B .,  late  Treas. 


3.  CHARTER  OF  GENEVA  ACADEMY 

The  Regents  of  the  University  of  the  State  of  New  York 

To  all  to  whom  these  Presents  shall  or  may  come  Greeting: 

Whereas  Jedediah  Chapman,  Samuel  Colt,  Polydore 
B.  Wisner,  John  Nicholas,  Davenport  Phelps,  James 
Rees,  H.  H.  Bogert,  Walter  Grieve,  Robert  Scot,  F.  A. 
DeZeng,  Thos.  Lowthrop,  John  Woods,  Wm.  Hortsen, 
David  Cook,  Jonathan  Doane,  William  Tippitts,  Abner 
Cole,  Thomas  D.  Burrall,  R.  W.  Stoddard,  A.  Dox, 
by  an  instrument  in  writing  under  their  hands  and  seals 
bearing  date  the  Twelfth  day  of  January  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  thirteen,  after  stating  that  they  had 
contributed  more  than  one  half  in  value  of  the  real  and 
personal  property  and  estate  collected  or  appropriated  for 
the  use  and  benefit  of  the  Academy  erected  at  the  Village  of 
Geneva  in  the  County  of  Ontario  did  make  application 
to  us  the  said  Regents  that  the  said  Academy  might  be 
incorporated  and  become  subject  to  the  visitation  of  us 
and  our  Successors  and  that  the  Reverend  Jedediah  Chap- 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


75 


man,  Polydore  B.  Wisner,  James  Rees,  Samuel  Colt, 
John  Nicholas,  Herman  H.  Bogert,  Robert  Scot,  David 
Cook,  Thomas  Lowthrop,  Jonathan  Doane,  Walter  Grieve, 
William  Tippitts  and  Frederick  A.  DeZeng  might  be  Trus¬ 
tees  of  the  said  Academy  by  the  name  of  “The  Trustees 
of  the  Geneva  Academy” — Now  know  ye  that  we  the  said 
Regents,  having  inquired  into  the  allegations  contained 
in  the  instrument  aforesaid  and  found  the  same  to  be 
true;  and  that  a  proper  building  for  said  Academy  hath 
been  erected  and  finished  and  paid  for,  and  that  funds 
have  been  obtained  and  well  secured,  producing  an  annual 
nett  income  of  at  least  one  hundred  dollars,  and  conceiving 
the  said  Academy  calculated  for  the  promotion  of  litera¬ 
ture,  Do  by  these  presents,  pursuant  to  the  Statute  in  such 
case  made  and  provided,  signify  our  approbation  of  the 
incorporation  of  the  said  Reverend  Jedediah  Chapman, 
Polydore  B.  Wisner,  James  Rees,  Samuel  Colt,  Thomas 
Lowthrop,  John  Nicholas,  Herman  H.  Bogert,  Robert 
Scot,  David  Cook,  Jonathan  Doane,  Walter  Grieve,  Wil¬ 
liam  Tippitts  and  Frederick  A.  DeZeng  by  the  name  of 
“The  Trustees  of  the  Geneva  Academy,”  being  the  name 
mentioned  in  and  by  the  said  request  in  writing,  On  con¬ 
dition  that  the  principal  or  estate  producing  the  said 
income  shall  never  be  diminished  or  otherwise  appropri¬ 
ated  and  that  the  said  income  shall  be  applied  only  to  the 
maintenance  or  salaries  of  the  professors  or  tutors  of  the 
Academy. 

IN  testimony  whereof ,  We  have  caused  our  Common 

Seal  to  be  hereunto  affixed  the 
(L.  S.)  Twenty  ninth  day  of  March,  in 

the  year  one  thousand  eight  hun¬ 
dred  and  Thirteen. 

(Signed)  Daniel  D.  Tompkins 


76  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


[Endorsed]  Charter  of  the  Geneva  Academy, 

State  of  New  York,  Secretary’s  Office, 
Recorded  in  Lib.  Deeds  M  R  R  page  482, 
etc.  the  25th  day  of  February,  1814. 
(Signed)  Arch’d  Campbell,  Dep.  Secretary. 

Fees  $1.  Paid  by  Mr.  Bogert 


4.  RESOLUTIONS  RELATIVE  TO  THE  DISCONTINUANCE 

OF  GENEVA  ACADEMY* 

Resolved  that  the  Reverend  Henry  Axtel,  Mr.  David 
Cook  and  Mr.  James  Carter  be  a  committee  to  take  care 
of  the  Academy  and  that  they  be  authorized  to  admit  any 
respectable  teacher  to  occupy  the  house  as  a  school  house, 
stipulating  that  such  teacher  shall  repair  all  damage  done 
during  his  occupation,  and  that  all  committees  heretofore 
appointed  be  discharged. 

Passed  8th  Dec.  1817. 

Trustees  present:  John  Nicholas,  James  Rees,  Sam’l 
Colt,  Henry  Axtel,  Orin  Clark,  David  Cook,  R.  S.  Rose,  W. 
Grieve,  Wm.  Tippitts,  James  Carter,  Thos.  Lowthrop. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees  of  Geneva  Academy  Thurs¬ 
day  29th  March,  1821. 

Whereas  the  interest  of  the  monies  secured  by  mortgage 
as  a  permanent  fund  to  this  Academy,  is  subject  to  dis¬ 
bursement  only  for  the  payment  of  a  Teacher,  and  it  was 
the  expectation  of  the  contributors  to  said  fund,  that  the 
said  interest  wTould  be  annually  appropriated  to  that 
object, and  whereas  the  Trustees  have  deemed  it  inexpedient 
since  the  8th  of  Dec.  1817  to  employ  Teachers  and  the 
contributors  have  in  consequence  thereof  been  deprived 
since  that  time  of  the  benefits  expected  from  said  fund, 

*The  resolution  of  Dec.  8,  1817  is  copied  from  the  original  MS 
(Archives  of  Hobart  College). 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


77 


Therefore,  Resolved  that  in  the  opinion  of  this  board  the 
Interest  due  and  to  become  due  up  to  14th  May  1821  ought 
not  to  be  collected. 

(Signed  and  certified  to  be  a  true  copy) 

James  Rees, 

Senior  Trustee 

June  27 ,  1822. 


5.  STATEMENT  OF  THOMAS  DAVIES  BURRALL 

RELATIVE  TO  BISHOP  HOBART’S  PLAN  FOR  ESTABLISHING 

A  COLLEGE  AT  GENEVA.* 

On  the  evening  of  September  23,  1818,  at  the  house  of 
Col.  Samuel  Colt,  in  Geneva  (in  presence  of  the  Rev. 
Orin  Clark,  Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  Col.  Colt, 
Major  James  Rees  and  myself),  Bishop  Hobart  announced 
his  purpose  of  building  up  a  stronghold  for  the  Church 
in  the  West  (as  he  then  expressed  it),  at  Geneva — an 
Institution  not  only  of  learning  but  of  religious  worship  and 
instruction  in  aid  of  the  Church  and  its  Ministry.  In 
his  quick,  decisive  manner,  he  proceeded  at  once  to  un¬ 
fold  his  scheme,  and  point  out  the  way  by  which  it  could 
be  effected.  He  proposed,  first,  that  the  Geneva  Academy 
already  chartered,  should  be  placed,  by  consent  of  the 
Trustees,  under  the  control  of  the  Vestry  of  the  Church 
in  Geneva,  and  elevated  to  the  rank  of  a  college,  and  by 
enlarging  the  number  of  Trustees  from  thirteen  to  twenty- 
four,  to  place  the  direction  of  the  College  in  the  hands  of 
Churchmen;  and  secondly,  he  assured  his  friends  that  on 
this  being  done,  the  Diocesan  Convention  of  New  York 
would  found  and  endow  the  College  under  the  charter, 

*From  a  communication  published  in  the  Gospel  Messenger , 
Oct.  8,  1868. 


78  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


as  an  acknowledged  Institution  of  the  Church  throughout 
the  State,  for  the  promotion  of  religion  and  learning  com¬ 
bined,  in  the  broadest  acceptation  of  the  terms. 


6.  BISHOP  HOBART  SELECTS  THE  COLLEGE  SITE,  1820 

“In  1820  Bishop  Hobart  selected  the  site  of  the  present 
College  buildings  as  an  eligible  place  for  such  an  Institu¬ 
tion.  On  that  occasion  he  was  accompanied  by  the  Revd. 
Orin  Clark,  D.D.,  Revd.  Danl.  McDonald,  D.D.,  Major 
James  Rees,  Genl.  Sami.  Colt,  and  Wm.  S.  DeZeng. 
Of  all  these  Mr.  DeZeng  is  the  only  survivor. ” —  From  an 
unsigned  MS.  note,  found  in  the  College  Archives,  endorsed 
“To  be  preserved  in  the  history  of  Geneva  College.” 

“The  ground  for  the  College  buildings  was  selected  by 
the  Bishop  at  early  morning  in  the  month  of  September, 
just  as  the  first  rays  of  the  sun  were  glancing  over  the 
waters  of  our  beautiful  lake;  a  few  friends  were  present 
by  appointment  (all  of  whom  save  the  writer  have  long 
since  gone  to  their  rest),  when  on  consultation  and  deliber¬ 
ation  on  the  different  opinions  of  those  present,  he,  in  his 
brisk  and  decided  manner,  struck  his  cane  to  the  ground, 
saying,  ‘Here,  gentlemen,  this  is  the  spot  for  the  College;’ 
and  on  that  spot  it  was  placed.”  Thos.  D.  Burrall  in 
Gospel  Messenger ,  Sept.  20,  1866. 


7.  SUBSCRIPTION  PAPER  FOR  THE  ERECTION  OF  GENEVA 

HALL* 

The  vestry  of  Trinity  Church  in  the  City  of  New  York 
having  heretofore  liberally  endowed  the  Academy  at 

*From  a  copy  in  President  Hale’s  handwriting.  Archives  of 
Hobart  College. 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


79 


Fairfield  in  Montgomery  County  on  certain  conditions, 
have  recently  agreed  to  transfer  the  endowment  to  the 
Academy  established  at  Geneva  in  the  County  of  Ontario, 
with  an  intent  to  use  all  practicable  means  to  raise  the 
Academy  to  the  highly  useful  station  of  a  college,  the 
transfer  however  to  be  subject  to  the  reasonable  condition, 
that  the  inhabitants  of  the  village  of  Geneva  and  its 
vicinity  shall  furnish  at  their  own  expense  a  suitable  lot  of 
land  and  buildings  thereon.  Now  we  the  subscribers,  in 
consideration  of  the  premises,  and  to  secure  the  transfer 
of  the  said  endowment  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Geneva 
Academy,  do  hereby  severally  promise  and  agree  to  and 
with  the  said  Trustees  to  pay  them  the  sums  of  money  set 
opposite  our  names  respectively,  and  to  do  and  perform  the 
several  acts  and  undertakings  hereinafter  promised  by  us 
respectively  at  such  times  and  in  such  manner  as  shall  be 
required  of  us  by  the  said  Trustees  for  the  purposes  afore¬ 
said.  (Signed)  Geneva,  15th  February,  1821. 


Samuel  Colt .  $  400 

James  Rees .  $  400 

Chas.  W.  Hussy .  $  300 

W.  S.  DeZeng .  $  250 

in  window  glass  &  other  building  materials. 

Wm.  Hortsen .  $  150 

A.  Dox .  $  100 

Wm.  Tappan .  $  100 

Jacob  O.  Dox .  $  100 

R.  W.  Stoddard,  by  bond  and  mortgage  of  Asa 

Gilbert  $314.84  (in  pencil  by  W.  S.  DeZeng) 

Mrs.  Anne  Nicholas .  $  300 

Thos.  D.  Burrall,  100  cords  wood. 

J.  B.  &  R.  Rumney .  $  100 

H.  Dwight .  $  150 

D.  W.  Lewis .  $  50 

John  Woods .  $  75 

in  lumber,  &c. 

H.  H.  Bogert .  $  300 


80  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


N.  Ayrault .  $  50 

David  Hudson .  $  50 


Copyist’s  note:  “The  original  of  this  is  in  the  hands  of 
R.  R.  Bishop  De  Lancey,  1848.” 

8.  COL.  TROUP’S  OFFER  OF  LAND  AT  MILE  POINT 

AS  AN  ALTERNATIVE  SITE  FOR  THE  COLLEGE* 

Mr.  Troup  in  behalf  of  the  Pulteney  Estate  hereby 
offers  the  following  described  piece  of  ground  for  the 
Erection  of  an  Academy  on  the  same,  viz:  The  piece  of 
ground  lying  immediately .  South  of  Mrs.  Williamson’s 
house  and  lot,  bounded  West  by  the  road  leading  to  the 
glass  factory,  East  by  the  Seneca  Lake,  and  to  rim  so  far 
South  as  to  contain  Eight  Acres  of  Land,  excepting  there¬ 
out  the  landing  place  and  sufficient  ground  for  a  road  to 
the  same  from  the  main  road  thro’  the  flat. 

With  the  ground  Mr.  Troup  will  give  the  Mile  Point 
house,  the  materials  of  which  will  be  of  considerable  use 
in  the  Erection  of  new  buildings. 

This  offer  is  on  the  express  condition  that  the  Academy 
shall  be  erected  on  the  above  described  piece  of  Land. 

(Signed)  Robt.  Troup 

Geneva ,  26th  March ,  1821. 

9.  REPORT  OF  THE  PROFESSORS  OF  THE  BRANCH  THEO¬ 
LOGICAL  SCHOOL  AT  GENEVAf 

To  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Hobart,  President  of  the 
Board  of  Managers  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Theolog¬ 
ical  Education  Society  in  the  Diocess  of  New  York,  the 
Professors  in  the  Branch  Theological  School  at  Geneva 
respectfully  report,  that — 

*MS.  in  the  Archives  of  the  College. 

f  Journal  of  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese  of  New  York,  Oct.  17, 
1821,  pp.  36,  37. 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


81 


The  Branch  Theological  School  was  opened  in  the  vestry 
schoolhouse  of  Trinity  Church,  Geneva,  on  the  11th  day  of 
June  last,  and  the  following  young  gentlemen,  intending  to 
enter  the  ministry  of  the  Church,  have  been  admitted 
members  of  the  school,  viz. — Marvin  Cady,  Richard  Sal¬ 
mon,  William  Bostwick,  Orsimus  H.  Smith,  Burton  H. 
Hecock,  John  A.  Clark,  John  Gavott,  Thaddeus  Garlick, 
and  Ira  White.  In  addition  to  which,  Henry  Gregory, 
Allanson  Bennett,  and  Seth  Davis,  are  daily  expected. 

The  Trustees  of  Geneva  Academy  are  now  erecting,  in 
an  eligible  situation,  on  the  bank  of  Seneca  Lake,  a  commo¬ 
dious  stone  building,  containing  thirty  rooms  for  students, 
besides  a  convenient  chapel.  The  building  will  be  ready 
for  the  reception  of  theological  and  classical  students 
on  the  first  of  next  May. 

Daniel  McDonald, 
Professor  of  Ecclesiastical  History 
and  Scripture  Interpretation. 

Orin  Clark, 

Professor  of  Systematic  Theology. 

10.  LETTER  FROM  THE  REY.  DANIEL  McDONALD  AND 
THE  REV.  ORIN  CLARK  TO  BISHOP  HOBART 

RELATIVE  TO  THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  A  COLLEGE  IN  GENEVA 

Geneva,  December  13,  1821. 

Rt.  Rev.  Sir:  We  take  the  liberty  of  communicating  to 
you  our  views  relative  to  a  college  in  this  place.*  The 

*In  an  earlier  letter  from  the  Rev.  Drs.  McDonald  and  Clark 
to  Bishop  Hobart,  dated  Dec.  8,  1821,  the  purpose  of  establishing  a 
college  at  Geneva  had  been  referred  to  in  the  following  words:  “We 
are  laboring  with  a  project  for  a  college  here,  but  not  having  mastered 
any  plan,  we  say  but  little  now;  hereafter,  and  that  soon,  we  will 
send  you  a  detailed  account  of  our  scheme.  In  the  mean  time  we 
hope  a  few  of  your  thoughts,  and  those  of  our  energetic  friend,  Mr. 
Verplanck,  will  be  turned  to  the  subject  of  an  Episcopal  college  at 
Geneva,”  Both  letters  are  given  by  Perry  from  Hobart  MSS. 


82  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


necessity  of  having  one  west  of  Clinton  is  obvious,  and 
some  other  place  will  soon  advance  pretenses  to  it  if  we  do 
not.  We  shall  say  nothing  to  a  person  as  well  acquainted 
with  the  west  as  you  are,  relative  to  our  claims,  founded 
on  local  circumstances.  But  the  necessity  of  our  having 
a  college  is  pressing.  A  college  gives  great  weight  and 
influence  to  that  denomination  that  has  it  and  manages 
it  well.  We  could  educate  more  young  men,  and  better 
too,  in  a  college  than  in  an  academy;  because  it  would  be 
popular,  and  possessed  of  better  discipline.  Such  is  the 
charm  of  a  diploma  to  a  youth,  that  he  will  ever  prefer  a 
college  to  an  academy.  Hence  some  will  leave  us.  A 
diploma,  like  an  oath  in  disputes,  cuts  off  all  controversy, 
and  the  possessor  is  admitted  by  the  world  as  competent, 
without  further  examination.  But  what  is  worthy  of 
deep  attention  in  ecclesiastical  concerns  is  this:  he  that 
goes  to  college  must,  and  thinks  he  must,  proceed  through 
regularly.  He  that  is  a  member  of  an  academy  thinks 
himself  at  liberty  to  study  as  much  as  he  pleases  and  no 
more.  Hence  a  college  is  indispensably  necessary  to  us 
if  we  mean  to  have  a  learned  clergy.  Fifty  thousand  dol¬ 
lars,  exclusive  of  academy  buildings  and  lot,  will  be  re¬ 
quired  by  the  Regents,  before  they  will  permit  us  to  exer¬ 
cise  college  functions.  To  obtain  this  sum  to  the  satis¬ 
faction  of  the  Regents,  we  propose:  1st.  to  get  the  Regents 
to  accept  of  the  Sherred  professorship  as  a  part  of  the 
required  fund  (if  acceded  to  by  the  Trustees  of  the  Theo¬ 
logical  School),  which  is  $10,000.  2d.  We  hope  Trinity 

Church  would,  in  case  we  could  obtain  a  charter,  convert 
her  donation  into  an  annuity,  which  would  count  $11,000 
more.  3d.  We  would  hope  to  have  another  professor¬ 
ship  here,  $10,000  more,  making  $31,000.  We  think 
$9,000  could  be  filled  with  subscriptions  of  lands,  and  some 
lands  might  perhaps  be  obtained  from  the  State.  And 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


83 


$10,000,  the  remainder,  must  be  solicited  through  the 
county,  secured  on  property,  where  the  principal  was  not 
paid  down. 

The  professors  in  the  theological  school  might  be  officers 
in  the  college.  Thus,  the  president  might  receive  the  sti¬ 
pend  from  Trinity  Church.  There  might  be  a  professor 
of  divinity,  as  in  New  Haven ;  and  the  professor  of  ecclesi¬ 
astical  history  might  be  professor  of  languages  and  history 
generally.  The  professor  of  divinity  might  also  be  pro¬ 
fessor  of  logic  and  rhetoric. 

We  press,  and  think  there  is  more  need  of  pressure, 
upon  this  point  of  a  college  from  this  consideration: 
Without  flattery,  we  think  that  the  whole  weight  of  the 
theological  branch  here  rests  upon  you.  Sir,  you  are 
its  author  and  supporter.  But  what  guaranty  have  we 
of  your  life,  of  the  good  will  of  your  successor,  or  of  the 
favorable  views  of  other  States  towards  us  after  your 
exertions  shall  have  ceased  by  the  course  of  nature? 
But  if  we  had  a  college  with  the  proper  professors,  sanc¬ 
tioned  by  the  Trustees  of  the  theological  school,  we  should 
be  safe,  and  always  have  the  means  of  educating  young 
men  ourselves.  Party  feelings  could  do  little  mischief 
to  a  college,  but  might  destroy  a  branch  theological  school. 

This  winter  seems  to  present  a  combination  of  favorable 
circumstances  for  us  to  apply.  Mr.  Verplanck  is  in  the 
Legislature;  no  application  of  the  kind  is  pending.  The 
census  is  recent,  by  which  the  importance  of  this  western 
world  is  fresh  in  the  minds  of  all;  and  the  west  is  favorable 
to  the  majority  in  politics.  Our  friends  here  are  decidedly 
for  making  an  application  this  winter.  Colonel  Troup 
thinks  there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  a  charter. 
There  will  probably  be  difficulties  in  obtaining  the  charter 
as  we  want  it.  We  want  it  to  be  our  own,  but  the  property 
given  must  secure  the  control  of  it. 


84  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


We  hope  to  hear  from  you  touching  this  point;  in  the 
meantime  we  shall  open  communication  with  Mr.  Ver- 
planck,  with  whom  we  trust  you  will  consult,  and  assist 
us  to  do  so.  The  legal  course  of  procedure  in  the  actual 
application  is  pointed  out  in  the  statutes,  but  we  wish  to 
have  the  thing  well  understood  by  the  Church  before  we 
move,  that  there  may  be  unity  in  motion. 

We  are,  with  great  respect  and  obedience, 

Your  much  obliged  and  dutiful  presbyters, 

(Signed)  D.  McDonald 
(Signed)  Orin  Clark 


11.  ADVERTISEMENT  OF  GENEVA  ACADEMY* 

GENEVA  ACADEMY 

The  Trustees  of  the  Geneva  Academy  give  notice,  that  the 
first  Quarter  for  the  ensuing  year  will  commence  on  Thurs¬ 
day,  the  third  day  of  January. 

From  a  desire  to  give  every  possible  facility  and  advan¬ 
tage  to  the  pupils  in  this  Institution,  the  Trustees  have 
lately  appointed  Mr.  W.  W.  Bostwick,  an  Assistant  In¬ 
structor  in  the  various  branches  of  education;  and  Mr. 
Ira  White,  Instructor  in  the  art  of  Penmanship,  whose 
qualifications  in  this  elegant  and  useful  accomplishment 
are  so  well  grounded  as  to  warrant  an  assurance  to  the 
admirers  of  good  Penmanship,  that  they  cannot  fail  to 
receive  much  gratification  from  the  proficiency  of  their 
children  in  this  important  art. 

The  Corporation  of  Trinity  Church  in  New  York, 
in  consequence  of  the  very  generous  donations  of  the  in¬ 
habitants  of  this  Village  towards  erecting  a  suitable  Build¬ 
ing  for  an  Academy,  have  granted  a  liberal  annual  sum  of 


^Copied  from  the  Hobart  Herald ,  Vol.  7,  Jan.  23,  1886,  p.  72. 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


85 


money  to  be  expressly  applied  to  the  payment  of  the 
Principal,  and  an  Assistant  in  this  Academy;  and  in  order 
the  more  effectually  to  extend  the  benefits  of  their  liberali¬ 
ty  to  all  who  may  wish  to  send  their  children  to  this 
Academy,  the  Trustees  have  settled  the  tuition  fees  at  as 
low  a  rate  as  at  present  they  possibly  can,  and  accordingly 
the  charge  will  be  for 


Reading, 

Writing, 
Arithmetic, 
English  kGrammar, 
Geography, 


Two  Dollars  and 
■  Fifty  Cents  per 
quarter 


Latin  and  Greek  Languages, 
Mathematics, 

Rhetoric, 

Metaphysics, 

Moral  and  Natural  Philosophy, 
Elements  of  History,  and  the 
Evidences  of  Christianity, 


Three  dollars 
per  quarter. 


The  Rev.  Dr.  McDonald,  as  Principal,  will  have  the 
general  charge  of  the  Studies  of  both  sexes  in  this  Academy. 
His  literary  acquirements  and  long  experience  in  the 
instruction  of  youth,  it  is  believed,  will  recommend  this 
Institution  to  public  patronage;  in  which  it  will  be  ob¬ 
served,  all  the  branches  usually  taught  in  Colleges,  as 
well  as  those  preparatory  to  a  Collegiate  education,  are 
selected  for  study. 

Boarding  and  Lodging  can  be  had  in  private  families  at 
from  ten  to  twelve  shillings  a  week,  which  will  be  reduced 
so  soon  as  the  new  building  shall  be  fit  for  students  to  room 
therein. 


86  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


Applications  to  be  made  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  McDonald, 
at  the  *School-House. 

James  Rees,  Senior  Trustee. 

Geneva ,  Dec .  29,  1821. 

12.  PETITION  FOR  A  COLLEGE  CHARTER  FOR  GENEVA 

ACADEMYf 

JANUARY  22,  1822. 

To  the  Regents  of  the  University  of  the  State  of  New  York: 

The  petition  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Geneva  Academy 
most  respectfully  sheweth:  That  your  Petitioners,  solici¬ 
tous  for  the  prosperity  of  the  institution  with  whose  in¬ 
terests  they  are  entrusted,  and  satisfied  that  the  step  they 
contemplate  is  the  only  effectual  means  of  securing  the 
ends  for  which  it  was  established,  have  determined  to 
make  an  effort  to  procure  for  it  such  endowments  as,  they 
trust,  may,  in  the  estimation  of  your  honorable  body, 
entitle  it  to  the  important  powers  &  privileges  of  a  Col¬ 
lege.  The  necessity  of  such  an  institution,  in  this  part  of 
the  country,  cannot  but  be  obvious  to  all  who  have  the 
least  acquaintance  with  the  extent,  resources  and  popula¬ 
tion  of  the  western  counties  of  this  State.  The  simple 
fact  that  there  are  in  the  contemplated  district  of  country 
more  than  half  a  million  of  people  whose  average  distance 
from  any  College  is  more  than  one  hundred  miles,  is  suffi¬ 
cient,  it  is  presumed,  to  put  this  point  beyond  question. 
Another  instance,  of  a  population  of  equal  extent  who  are 
so  far  removed  from  the  advantages  of  such  an  institution, 
does  not,  it  is  confidently  believed,  exist  in  the  United 
States. 

*The  school-house  here  referred  to  is  the  parish  school  building 
which  at  that  time  stood  on  the  south-west  corner  of  the  Trinity 
Church  lot.  (Editor’s  note). 

fMS  in  College  Archives. 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


87 


Your  Petitioners  are  aware  of  the  prevalence  of  an 
opinion  that  the  multiplication  of  Colleges  is  unfavorable 
to  the  advancement  of  literature  and  science,  and  that  the 
number  already  chartered  is  sufficient  for  all  the  purposes 
of  public  education.  But  this  idea  is  certainly  incorrect, 
except  in  cases  where  they  are  located  so  near  as  to  in¬ 
terfere  with  each  other,  and  cannot  apply  in  the  case  under 
consideration,  as  Geneva  is  situated  at  such  a  distance  from 
Clinton  as  must  preclude  the  apprehension  of  any  injury 
to  the  College  at  that  place  by  the  establishment  of  a  like 
institution  at  Geneva. 

In  a  general  view  also  the  idea  is  at  variance  with  both 
reason  and  fact.  No  principle  can  be  more  obvious  than 
that  the  diffusion  of  knowledge  and  the  advantages  of 
learning  will  be  in  proportion  to  the  facilities  afforded  for 
acquiring  them.  But  the  fact  that  the  most  flourishing 
and  respectable  colleges  in  the  Union  are  situated  in  those 
States  whose  population  is  far  less  than  that  of  the  con¬ 
templated  district,  is  an  ample  refutation  of  the  objection. 

Your  petitioners,  sensible  that  private  and  local  inter¬ 
ests  ought  ever  to  yield  to  considerations  of  public  good, 
have  been  guided  solely  by  a  regard  to  this  object  in  naming 
Geneva  as  the  proper  place  for  a  college  in  the  western 
district,  and  they  assert,  without  the  fear  of  contradiction, 
that  no  spot  more  eligible  in  all  respects  can  be  selected 
within  its  limits.  It  possesses  all  the  local  advantages  that 
can  be  desired  for  a  literary  institution.  In  its  position 
it  is  central  and  is  easily  accessible,  by  means  of  the  Lakes 
and  Erie  Canal,  to  a  vast  population, — it  is  surrounded 
by  a  country  of  great  fertility,  abundant  in  every  pro¬ 
duction  that  can  contribute  to  the  wealth  and  comfort 
of  its  inhabitants,  and  in  beauty  and  healthfulness  is  not 
surpassed  by  any  place  in  this  or  any  other  country. 

Upon  the  whole  your  petitioners  are  confident  that  when 
your  honorable  body  shall  take  into  consideration  the 


88  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


destitute  situation  of  this  part  of  our  State,  its  great  and 
increasing  population  and  the  great  advantages  to  be 
derived  to  it  from  a  well  regulated  and  liberally  endowed 
college  the  only  question  which  will  present  itself  to  your 
deliberation  will  be  whether  we  have  a  reasonable  prospect 
of  raising  funds  sufficient  to  render  such  an  institution 
useful  and  respectable.  And  upon  this  point  your  peti¬ 
tioners  beg  leave  to  state  that  they  entertain  no  fears, 
and  they  would  cherish  the  hope  that  what  they  have 
already  done  may  be  viewed  as  a  pledge  of  their  success 
in  the  accomplishment  of  this  important  object.  They 
have,  as  trustees  of  the  Academy,  property  well  secured 

to  the  amount  of .  $1500. — 

Also  a  lot  for  buildings  of  8  acres  valued  at .  2500. — 

on  which  they  have  erected  a  large  stone  edifice,  contain¬ 
ing  a  chapel  and  rooms  for  the  accommodation  of  60 

students .  7000. — 

They  also  receive  an  annuity  from  the  Corporation 
of  Trinity  Church,  N.  Y.,  of  $750  per  annum,  for  the 
support  of  a  principal  and  assistant  in  the  academy,  which 
it  is  expected  would  be  rendered  permanent  to  the  presi¬ 
dent  of  the  College  &  which  arises  from  a  principal  of 
not  less  than .  10714. — 


$21714.— 

In  addition  to  which  they  have  encouragement  of  aid 
from  other  sources  from  which  they  feel  justified  in 
calculating  with  confidence  upon  raising  funds,  within  the 
term  of  three  years,  to  the  amount  of  more  than  fifty 
thousand  dollars,  and  which  shall  produce  annually  more 
than  three  thousand  dollars. 

Wherefore  your  petitioners  humbly  pray  your 
body  to  grant  them  college  powers  to  take  effect 
at  the  expiration  of  three  years  from  the  date  of 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


89 


the  grant,  provided  your  petitioners,  within  that 
period,  shall  acquire  such  permanent  funds  as  your 
honorable  body  shall  deem  sufficient  for  the  impor¬ 
tant  objects  of  Collegiate  Education. 

And  your  petitioners  will  ever  pray. 

By  order  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Geneva  Academy 

(Signed)  James  Rees 

Geneva ,  Jany.  22d,  1822.  Senior  Trustee 


13.  LETTER  FROM  BISHOP  HOBART  TO 
LIEUT.-GOVERNOR  TAYLER* 

URGING  THE  GRANTING  OF  A  COLLEGE  CHARTER  TO 

GENEVA  ACADEMY 

New  York,  March  13,1822 

Dear  Sir: 

I  hope  you  will  permit  me  respectfully  to  call  your 
attention  to  an  application  from  Geneva,  for  a  charter  for 
a  college.  I  understand  there  is  a  similar  one  from  Ithaca, 
and  may  not  both  be  granted,  on  the  principle,  that 
whenever  any  denomination  of  Christians  raise  funds  to 
a  certain  amount  for  a  college,  it  is  expedient  to  grant 
them  a  charter?  Would  not  the  security  which  this 
would  give  to  every  denomination  as  it  respects  its  in¬ 
fluence  in  literary  instruction,  the  impartiality  which  this 
would  discover,  the  removal  of  all  causes  of  jealousy,  and 
the  competition  which  would  thus  be  excited  among  the 
various  colleges  for  public  patronage  more  than  counter¬ 
balance  any  disadvantages  which  might  arise  from  the 
multiplication  of  colleges?  And  after  all,  those  only  would 
be  eminent  which  would  be  deserving,  and  degrees  would 
be  estimated  according  to  the  character  of  the  college 
which  conferred  them. 


*MS.  copy  in  Archives  of  the  College. 


90  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


The  establishment  of  a  branch  of  the  General  Theologi¬ 
cal  School  of  our  Church  at  Geneva  leads  to  an  earnest 
wish  that  the  powers  of  a  college  may  be  granted  to  the 
Academy  there.  Union  College  and  Hamilton  are  de 
facto  under  Presbyterian  influence  and  subservient  to 
Presbyterian  views  in  a  great  measure.  All  that  the 
Church  would  wish  is  an  opportunity  to  employ  her 
means,  as  she  may  think  proper  for  the  advancement  of 
literature  and  religion,  having  of  course  no  objection  to 
the  same  opportunity  being  enjoyed  by  others. 

May  I  presume,  Sir,  that  you  will  give  to  these  sugges¬ 
tions  an  indulgent  consideration,  and  believe  me  to  be 

With  great  respect, 

Yr.  very  obt.  fd.  &  servt., 
(Signed)  J.  H.  Hobart 
Copyist’s  note:  “The  original  of  this  was  given  to  me 
(B.  H.)  by  Rev.  C.  D.  Cooper,  grandson  of  Lieu¬ 
tenant  Governor  Tayler,  and  is  now  in  the  hands  of  Bishop 
DeLancey,  1848.” 


14.  CERTIFICATION  OF  THE  GRANTING  OF  A  PROVISIONAL 
COLLEGE  CHARTER  TO  GENEVA  ACADEMY 

ON  APRIL  10,  1822* 

In  pursuance  of  a  Resolution  of  the  Regents  of  the  LTni- 
versity  of  the  State  of  New  York,  passed  April  the  10th, 
1822,  it  is  hereby  Certified  that  the  Regents  have  declared 
their  approbation  of  the  plan  on  which  it  is  intended  to 
found  and  provide  for  a  College  at  Geneva,  in  the  County 
of  Ontario,  and  that  the  term  of  three  years  be  allowed  for 
completing  the  same,  and  if  at  the  expiration  of  that 
time  it  shall  appear  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Regents 
that  the  said  plan  has  been  executed,  and  that  permanent 


*MS.  in  College  Archives. 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


91 


funds,  producing  annually  the  sum  of  four  thousand  dollars 
or  upwards  for  the  benefit  of  the  said  institution,  have 
been  properly  secured,  the  said  Regents  have  further 
declared  that  the  said  institution  shall  thereupon  be  in¬ 
corporated  as  a  College  according  to  the  laws  of  the  State 
and  the  Regulations  of  the  Regents. 

In  witness  whereof  the  seal  of  the  said  Regents  is  hereun¬ 
to  affixed  at  the  City  of  Albany,  the  16th  day  of  April, 
1828. 

Attest : 

(L.  S.)  (Signed)  Gideon  Hawley, 

Secretary. 

N.  B. — The  term  of  three  years  commenced  on  the 
10th  day  of  April,  1822. 

G.  Hawley,  Secretary 

15.  LETTER  FROM  BISHOP  HOBART  TO  THE 
REVEREND  DR.  McDONALD* 

RELATIVE  TO  SECURING  FUNDS  AND  SELECTING  OFFICERS 

FOR  THE  NEW  COLLEGE 

New  York,  April  15,  1822. 

My  Dear  Sir, — You  must  not  suppose  because  you 
have  not  heard  from  me  that  I  have  been  indifferent  to  the 
application  from  Geneva  for  a  college.  The  moment  I 
heard  of  it  I  took  all  the  measures  in  my  power  to  promote 
its  success,  and  addressed  letters  to  several  of  the  Regents, 
and  in  some  cases,  I  believe,  with  effect.  You  are  much 
indebted  for  the  success  of  the  application  to  Mr.  Duer 
and  Mr.  Verplanck,  particularly  the  former,  who  brought 
in  the  report  to  the  Regents,  and  I  think  it  would  be  well 
for  yourself  and  Mr.  Clark  and  some  of  the  friends  of  the 
Church  at  Geneva  to  write  to  him  a  letter  of  thanks.  It 
is  unfortunate  that  Ithaca  is  connected  with  you.  But 


*Reprinted  from  Perry. 


92  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


there  was  no  help  for  it.  They  will  find  it  difficult,  I 
should  think,  to  raise  four  thousand  dollars  per  annum , 
and  I  am  afraid  this  will  be  a  difficulty  with  you.  Means, 
however,  must  be  devised  for  surmounting  it. 

You,  who  know  how  much  I  have  thought  and  how  much 
I  have  planned  and  labored  for  this  object,  can  readily 
conceive  my  gratification  at  seeing  it  thus  far  accomplished, 
— sooner,  indeed,  than  I  could  have  expected.  Providence 
has  favored  us.  I  am  the  more  gratified,  inasmuch  as  I 
have  found  it  difficult  to  make  the  clergy  and  others  in 
this  quarter  feel  as  I  have  felt  on  the  subject.  And  even 
now  M.  and  W.,  etc.,  seem  to  care  little  about  it.  It 
will  give  unfeigned  pleasure,  however,  to  Bishop  Bowen, 
of  South  Carolina,  who  recently  wrote  to  me,  expressing, 
as  he  has  often  done,  his  deep  sense  of  the  importance 
of  our  having  a  college,  and  wishing  success  to  the  plan 
in  relation  to  Geneva . 

The  branch  theological  school  is,  as  you  may  suppose, 
not  popular  with  many,  and  it  was  not  an  easy  matter  to 
obtain  for  it  the  arrangements  which  have  been  made. 
As  our  income  will  this  year  fall  short  of  our  expenditures, 
I  have  been  afraid  to  press  more  for  Geneva  than  has  been 
obtained . 

The  organization  of  the  college,  particularly  with  regard 
to  the  trustees  who  are  to  be  appointed,  and  other  matters, 
will  require  a  great  deal  of  deliberation,  as  much  will  de¬ 
pend  on  these  measures.  I  expect,  God  willing,  to  be  at 
the  westward  this  summer,  and  conclude  it  will  be  well 

for  me  to  spend  some  days  at  Geneva . 

Very  truly  and  affectionately  yours, 

J.  H.  Hobart 


The  Rev.  Dr.  McDonald. 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


93 


16.  CERTIFICATES  EMPLOYED  IN  RAISING  FUNDS  TO 
SECURE  A  PERMANENT  CHARTER* 

Certificate  No.  214.  From  the  Original  in  the 

Archives  of  the  College. 

Whereas  [Luther  Filmorejf 

has  subscribed  One  Hundred  Dollars  to  the  Funds  of 
Geneva  College,  and  given  his  Note  for  the  same: 

This  is  to  Certify,  that  he,  the  said . 

[Luther  Filmore]  shall,  on  payment  of  the  said  Note, 
be  entitled  to  receive  from  the  Trustees  a  Certificate 
securing  to  himself,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  the  privilege 
of  sending  One  Student  to  the  Geneva  Academy  or  College, 
for  the  term  of  Twenty  Years  from  the  date  of  the  said 
payment  and  certificate  [or  at  any  time  thereafter  which 
he  may  choose] 

Dated  at  [Ontario]  this  [27th]  day  of  [October]  182[3]. 
No.  [214]  [John  Gavett] 

[Agent  for  the  Trustees] 
Certificate  No.  260.  From  the  Original  in  the 

Archives  of  the  College. 

No.  [260.] 

This  Certifies,  that  [William  W.  Wat¬ 
son,  Geneva]  having  Subscribed  and  Paid  One  Hundred 
Dollars  to  the  Funds  of  Geneva  College,  is  himself,  his 
heirs  and  assigns,  entitled  to  the  privilege  of  sending 
One  StudentJ  to  Geneva  College,  free  of  Tuition  Fees,  for 
the  term  of  Twenty  years,  commencing  from  the  date 
hereof,  or  whenever  he  may  choose.  Dated  at  [Geneva] 
this  [18th]  day  of  [June  1841]. 

[James  Rees,  Treas.  G.  C  ] 

Agent  of  the  Trustees. 

*These  certificates  and  the  conditions  on  which  subscriptions 
were  solicited,  as  well  as  the  advantages  offered  by  the  new  institu¬ 
tion,  are  explained  in  the  circular  and  pamphlet  printed  in  Section 
III  of  this  Appendix. 

fThe  words  in  brackets  are  written  into  the  form. 

{The  words  “to  the  Geneva  Academy,  or”  are  crossed  out. 


94  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


17.  REPORT  TO  THE  ASSEMBLY,  FEB.  21,  1824 

FROM  THE  STANDING  COMMITTEE  ON  COLLEGES,  ACADEMIES 

AND  COMMON  SCHOOLS 

The  standing  committee  on  colleges,  academies  and  com¬ 
mon  schools,  to  whom  was  referred  the  petition  of  the 
trustees  of  Geneva  academy, 

Report — 

That  the  regents  of  the  university,  by  a  provisional  act 
passed  by  them  on  the  tenth  day  of  April,  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  twenty-two,  engaged  to  elevate  the 
Geneva  academy  to  the  rank  of  a  college,  if,  within  three 
years  from  that  date,  the  trustees  of  the  said  academy 
should  have  procured  an  endowment  of  the  contemplated 
college,  with  funds,  yielding  an  annual  income  of  at  least 
three  thousand  dollars:  The  petitioners  represent  that 
they  will  be  able  to  procure  the  requisite  endowment, 
within  the  time  limited;  and  they  now  pray  for  aid  in 
erecting  the  buildings  suitable  for  college  purposes. 

It  appears  to  your  committee,  that  the  patrons  of 
this  institution,  besides  having  raised  the  above  mentioned 
liberal  endowment,  have  also  expended,  at  least,  ten 
thousand  dollars,  in  erecting  and  completing  a  substantial 
and  elegant  stone  edifice  for  an  academy,  in  which  are 
now  instructed  ninety-two  classical  scholars,  as  appears 
by  the  annual  return  of  the  superintendent. 

Your  committee,  in  seeking  for  reasons  to  justify  them 
in  recommending  to  this  honorable  house,  an  appro¬ 
priation  in  aid  of  this  institution,  have  regarded  the  fol¬ 
lowing  facts: 

That  this  college  will  be  nearly  equi-distant  from  Ham¬ 
ilton  college  and  the  western  frontier  of  this  state;  in 
the  midst  of  a  population  of  half  a  million  of  thriving  and 
intelligent  citizens,  destitute  of  any  other  than  academic 
seats  of  learning. 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


95 


That  it  will  have  been  endowed  entirely  by  the  munifi¬ 
cence  of  its  patrons,  without  one  cent  from  the  treasury. 

That  its  location  in  the  village  of  Geneva,  upon  the 
margin  of  the  Seneca  lake,  is  eligible  and  healthy. 

That  it  is  represented,  and  most  probably  with  truth, 
that  owing  to  the  unusual  liberality  of  individuals  to  this 
institution,  the  trustees  cannot  rely  upon  further  contri¬ 
butions  to  defray  the  expense  of  erecting  the  necessary 
college  buildings;  whereby  this  endowment  will,  in  a 
great  degree,  be  unavailing  to  the  public. 

That  it  is  the  first  and  only  application  from  the  western 
part  of  the  state,  for  an  appropriation  for  such  a  purpose. 

And  that  finally,  liberality  so  unusual  as  that  mani¬ 
fested  by  the  patrons  of  this  college,  is  praiseworthy,  and 
deserves  public  patronage. 

Your  committee  forbear  to  state  to  this  enlightened 
and  patriotic  house,  any  considerations  arising  from  the 
policy  of  encouraging  institutions  of  learning  in  this 
state,  as  a  reason  for  assisting  this  or  any  other  college; 
believing  that  the  customary  treatment  of  similar  appli¬ 
cations,  in  years  past,  furnishes  the  best  evidence  of  public 
sentiment  on  this  subject:  Nor  do  your  committee  be¬ 
lieve  that  it  is  expedient  to  grant  money  to  be  expended 
as  the  caprice  of  trustees  may  dictate;  there  should  be 
a  certainty  that  the  charity  of  the  state  shall  not  be  abused 
and  perverted. 

Your  committee,  therefore,  upon  a  consideration  of 
the  whole  subject,  have  resolved  on  recommending  to 
this  honorable  house,  to  grant  to  the  petitioners  the  bond 
of  John  B.  Yates  and  Archibald  Mclntire  for  20,000 
dollars,  falling  due  on  the  24th  day  of  March,  1825: 
Provided ,  The  trustees  of  the  proposed  college,  shall  have, 
on  some  future  day  to  be  named,  complied  with  the  terms 
of  the  aforesaid  provisional  act  in  respect  to  their  funds; 


96  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


and  shall  have  received  their  charter  from  the  regents; 
and  also  shall  have  erected  and  completed  one  or  more 
substantial  stone  or  brick  edifices,  of  at  least  the  value 
of  20,000  dollars,  for  college  purposes;  and  that  the  as¬ 
signment  of  the  said  bond  shall  not  be  made,  until  the 
comptroller  shall  be  fully  satisfied  that  all  these  conditions 
have  been  complied  with. 

Your  committee  recommend  this  specific  appropriation, 
because  the  avails  of  the  fund  from  which  it  arises,  have 
been  usually  set  apart  for  literary  purposes;  and  have 
prepared  a  bill,  and  directed  their  chairman  to  ask  leave 
to  present  the  same. 

B.  Whiting,  Chairman. 

18.  PETITION  TO  THE  REGENTS  FOR  A  PERMANENT 

CHARTER* 

To  the  Honourable  the  Regents  of  the  University  of  the 
State  of  New  York: 

The  Memorial  of  the  Trustees  of  Geneva  Academy 
respectfully  shews  that,  Your  honourable  Body  did  on 
the  tenth  day  of  April  A.  D.  1822  pass  a  Resolution  ele¬ 
vating  Geneva  Academy  to  the  rank  of  a  College;  provi¬ 
ded  that,  within  the  space  of  three  years  succeeding  that 
date,  the  Trustees  of  said  Academy  would  raise  an  active 
fund  for  the  support  of  said  College,  which  fund  should 
produce  a  revenue  of  not  less  than  Four  Thousand  Dollars 
per  annum  :f 

*MS.  in  College  Archives. 

fThe  annual  revenue  according  to  the  statement  submitted  to  the 


Regents,  was  made  up  as  follows: 

1.  Academy  fund  of  $1800,  at  7  p.  c.,  producing .  $  126.00 

2.  New  York  (S.  P.  R.  L.)  donation  of  $20,500  at  6  p.  c.  1,230.00 

3.  Startin  legacy  $5000,  at  7  p.  c .  350.00 

4.  Amount  collected  from  various  sources,  and 

producing  7  p.  c.,  $33,800 .  2,366.00 

Amount  of  annual  revenue .  $4,072.00 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


97 


In  accordance  therefore  with  that  Resolution  of  your 
honourable  Body  the  Trustees  of  said  Academy  now  beg 
leave  to  state  that  they  have  raised  and  secured,  as  a 
s  permanent  active  fund,  such  a  sum  of  money  as  will  pro¬ 
duce  to  the  proposed  College  the  said  annual  revenue 
of  Four  Thousand  Dollars  in  good  and  certain  payments. 

Fully  persuaded  therefore  that  they  have  fulfilled  the 
intentions  of  your  honourable  Body,  as  expressed  in  your 
above  mentioned  Resolution,  the  Trustees  of  Geneva 
Academy  respectfully  request  that  your  honourable  Body 
would  cause  a  Charter  to  be  executed  constituting  the  said 
Trustees  a  College  Corporation,  with  all  the  privileges 
usually  enjoyed  by  similar  Institutions  in  this  State; 
and  that  they  may  be  known  in  Law  by  the  style  and  title 
of  the  “Trustees  of  Genesee  College,”  Geneva,  and  your 
memorialists  as  in  duty  bound  will  ever  pray.* 

Dated  at  Geneva,  Ontario  County,  this  first  day  of 
January  1825. 

By  order  of  the  Board — 


(Signed)  Samuel  Colt 


19.  REPORT  TO  THE  SENATE,  FEBRUARY  23,  1825 

OF  THE  COMMITTEE  ON  LITERATURE,  ON  THE  PETITION  OF 


THE  TRUSTEES  OF  GENEVA  COLLEGE 


The  standing  committee  on  literature,  to  whom  was 
referred  the  petition  of  the  trustees  of  Geneva  college, 
Report: 

Geneva  college  has  recently  been  incorporated  by  the 
regents  of  the  university,  upon  satisfactory  evidence 

*The  Permanent  Charter,  granted  Feb.  8,  1825,  is  printed,  with 
amendments,  at  the  end  of  this  Appendix. 


98  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


having  been  produced  to  them,  that  productive  funds, 
to  the  amount  of  more  than  sixty  thousand  dollars,  have 
been  contributed  for  its  endowment,  and  have  been  so 
vested  as  to  produce  an  income  exceeding  four  thousand 
dollars  per  annum.  This  income,  together  with  the  charges 
for  tuition  and  other  incidental  resources,  it  is  believed 
will  be  sufficient  to  command  the  services  of  an  adequate 
number  of  able  and  competent  instructors.  The  trustees 
have  now  a  large  stone  building,  but  it  will  not  be  sufficient 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  number  of  students  that 
may  be  expected;  and  they  solicit  legislative  aid  to  con¬ 
struct  the  necessary  buildings,  and  to  provide  a  library, 
and  philosophical  and  chemical  apparatus. 

The  plan  of  instruction  proposed  to  be  pursued  in  the 
college,  has  been  submitted  to  your  committee,  and  they 
are  deeply  impressed  with  its  usefulness.*  Besides  the 
regular  course  of  classical  studies  pursued  in  similar 
institutions,  it  is  intended  to  institute  a  totally  distinct 
course,  in  direct  reference  to  the  practical  business  of  life, 
calculated  particularly  for  the  agriculturist,  the  merchant, 
the  manufacturer  and  the  mechanic,  without  subjecting 
them  to  the  loss  of  time  and  expense  incurred  by  passing 
through  a  course  of  classical  studies.  For  this  purpose, 
it  is  contemplated  to  establish  professorships  in  the  higher 
branches  of  English  education,  in  the  mathematics  and  in 
chemistry,  under  whose  instruction  students  shall  pursue 
a  regular  course,  to  occupy  about  two  years. 

It  is  unquestionably  true,  that  the  system  of  education 
in  existing  colleges  seems  better  adapted  to  preparing 
students  for  the  professions  of  divinity,  law  and  physic, 
than  for  the  ordinary  business  of  life.  The  consequences 
of  this  system  are  seen  in  the  crowded  state  of  the  pro- 

*Compare  the  circular  and  pamphlet  of  1824,  printed  as  Section 
III  of  this  Appendix. 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


99 


fessions,  into  which  students  who  have  received  a  collegi¬ 
ate  education  are  in  a  measure  compelled  to  enter,  from 
their  unfitness  for  any  other  business;  and  in  the  ignorance 
which  prevails  among  all  the  other  classes  of  community, 
of  those  sciences  which  are  intimately  connected  with 
their  trades  and  pursuits.  The  spirit  of  the  age,  and  the 
genius  of  our  free  and  equal  government,  require  that  this 
system  should  be  changed,  and  that  means  of  instruction 
in  their  business  shall  be  furnished  to  that  most  numerous, 
and  by  far  most  important  portion  of  our  community, 
consisting  of  the  farmer,  the  manufacturer,  the  mechanic 
and  the  merchant;  and  your  committee  rejoice  to  see  the 
effort  now  made  by  Geneva  college  to  accomplish  that 
object.  It  is  worthy  of  being  seconded  and  sustained  by 
the  representatives  of  a  free  people.  A  successful  example 
once  made,  will  have  its  due  influence  upon  the  other 
colleges  of  the  state,  and  induce  a  system  of  instruction 
from  which  the  most  important  and  most  happy  results 
to  the  rising  generation  may  be  confidently  anticipated. 

Geneva  college  is  situated  about  equidistant  from 
Hamilton  college  and  the  western  boundary  of  the  state, 
in  the  midst  of  a  population  of  more  than  half  a  million, 
whose  enterprise,  intelligence  and  numbers,  entitle  them 
to  the  same  facilities  in  obtaining  education  which  are 
enjoyed  by  their  fellow-citizens  in  the  eastern  and  southern 
parts  of  the  state.  It  is  with  no  invidious  motives,  but 
from  the  connection  with  the  subject,  and  with  entire 
approbation,  that  the  committee  quote  a  statement  made 
by  the  regents  of  the  university  in  1823,  from  which  it 
appears  that  the  state  has  bestowed  on  Columbia  College 
113,275  dollars,  on  Union  college  418,500  dollars,  and  on 
Hamilton  college  106,800  dollars,  besides  numerous  grants 
of  money  to  academies  and  medical  colleges,  to  an  amount 
worthy  of  its  character,  but  of  which  not  more  than  one 


100  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 

thousand  dollars,  which  was  granted  to  Middlebury 
academy,  has  ever  been  distributed  in  that  section  of 
country  which  Geneva  college  is  intended  to  accommodate. 
The  committee  do  not  perceive  how,  upon  the  principles 
of  common  justice,  the  legislature  can  refuse  to  that 
portion  of  the  state  its  fair  and  equal  participation  in  the 
funds  to  which  they,  in  common  with  their  fellow-citizens, 
have  contributed. 

Independent  of  these  peculiar  claims,  your  committee  is 
of  opinion  that  the  best  interests  of  the  community,  the 
cause  of  education  and  intelligence,  and  the  blessings  of 
liberty  and  self-government,  can  in  no  way  be  better  pro¬ 
moted  than  by  fostering,  sustaining,  and  extending  these 
institutions.  Many  of  the  future  statesmen  and  legis¬ 
lators  upon  whom  the  destinies  of  their  country  may 
depend,  are  to  be  there  formed.  There  the  teachers  of 
religion,  the  preservers  of  our  health,  and  the  defenders 
of  our  rights,  are  to  be  nurtured.  Future  professors  and 
teachers  are  to  be  there  qualified  to  transmit  to  their 
successors  the  inestimable  blessings  of  education.  From 
them  your  academies  and  common  schools  will  receive 
able  and  accomplished  instructors;  and  the  stream  of 
intelligence  which  flows  from  them,  will  widen  and  expand 
as  it  advances,  become  the  source  of  innumerable  diverg¬ 
ing  branches,  and  force  new  channels  of  information, 
until  our  country  shall  become  as  enlightened  as  it  is  free 
and  happy. 

There  are  many  and  various  considerations  which  press 
upon  the  minds  of  your  committee,  in  favor  of  a  continu¬ 
ance  of  the  noble  and  munificent  system  of  literary  and 
common  school  patronage  which  has  hitherto  distinguished 
our  state;  but  they  forbear  entering  into  them, 
from  a  thorough  conviction  that  it  can  not  be  necessary. 
They  may  remark,  that  they  would  foster  and  cherish  the 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


101 


common  school  system,  as  the  first  and  greatest  object;  and 
they  would  extend  a  liberal,  but  discreet  patronage  to 
other  literary  institutions,  as  being  valuable  in  themselves, 
and  as  being  intimately  connected  with  that  system,  and 
indeed  essential  to  its  full  and  complete  success. 

It  is  the  unanimous  opinion  of  your  committee,  there¬ 
fore,  that  whenever  the  circumstances  of  a  particular 
section  of  the  state  are  such  as  to  require  the  establishment 
of  seminaries  of  learning,  and  a  sufficient  effort  has  been 
made  by  the  citizens  of  that  section,  for  the  endowment 
of  such  a  seminary,  as  to  afford  to  the  public  a  pledge  that 
those  efforts  will  not  be  relaxed,  and  the  institution  will 
not  be  thrown  upon  the  public  bounty,  it  becomes  a  sacred 
duty  to  extend  to  it  the  patronage  of  the  legislature. 
The  present  is  precisely  such  a  case.  Exertions  unparal¬ 
leled  in  this  state,  have  been  made  for  the  collection  of  a 
fund;  and  their  success  affords  at  once  conclusive  proof 
of  the  great  anxiety  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  part  of  the 
country  for  the  establishment  of  a  college,  and  also  an 
unquestionable  pledge  that  private  interest  and  individual 
zeal  will  faithfully  and  judiciously  apply  the  munificence 
of  the  legislature  to  the  destined  object.  And  with  this 
college,  the  question  is  even  reduced  to  a  narrower  point; 
for  having  received  these  contributions  for  a  specified 
object,  the  trustees  are  bound  to  proceed  with  their  insti¬ 
tution.  And  then  the  question  presented  to  us,  is,  whether 
we  will  suffer  such  an  institution,  upon  such  a  plan,  and 
under  the  circumstances  before  presented,  to  languish 
out  a  miserable  existence,  with  the  name  of  a  college,  but 
with  few  or  none  of  its  means  of  usefulness — alike  dis¬ 
graceful  to  our  intelligence  and  patriotism?  Or  whether, 
by  a  judicious  appropriation  from  our  abundant  resources, 
we  shall  reward  and  stimulate  such  laudable  exertions, 
impart  new  vigor  and  activity  to  a  most  valuable  insti- 


102  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


tution,  and  extend  the  blessings  of  liberal  education  among 
a  worthy  and  patriotic  people,  who  have  hitherto  never 
participated  in  the  grants  for  literary  purposes?  To 
these  questions  your  committee  believe  there  can  be  but 
one  answer,  that  every  consideration  of  duty  and  of  patriot¬ 
ism  requires  us  to  extend  our  aid  to  the  petitioners. 

Keeping  constantly  in  view  the  object  of  bestowing  aid 
so  far  only  as  it  was  really  requisite,  your  committee 
have  required  estimates  to  be  laid  before  them,  of  the 
sums  necessary  for  the  different  objects  specified  by  the 
petitioners.  Dr.  T.  Romeyn  Beck,  of  this  city,  states, 
that  he  thinks  a  complete  chemical  apparatus  may  be 
purchased  for  2500  dollars,  and  that  7500  dollars  would 
be  requisite  for  a  complete  philosophical  apparatus; 
and  that  the  necessary  books  which  a  student  in  those 
branches  ought  to  have  in  his  power  for  reference,  will 
cost  2500  dollars.  To  this  should  be  added  10,000  dollars 
for  a  general  library;  a  very  low  estimate,  when  it  is  con¬ 
sidered  that  the  books  wanted  are  rare,  high  in  price, 
and  must  generally  be  imported.  An  estimate  has  been 
furnished  for  a  plain,  substantial  building,  with  the  least 
possible  ornamental  work,  to  be  constructed  of  stone 
or  brick,  sufficient  for  the  accommodation  of  two  hundred 
students,  at  thirty-two  thousand  dollars.  Your  committee 
have  reason  to  believe  this  estimate  is  reasonable.  The 
total  of  these  estimates  amounts  to  54,500  dollars.  And 
the  committee  are  unanimously  of  opinion,  and  recommend 
that  the  sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars*  be  appropriated  to 
aid  the  trustees  of  Geneva  college  in  the  erection  of  neces- 

*Neither  this  recommendation  nor  the  recommendation  to  grant 
$20,000,  made  in  the  Report  to  the  Assembly, Feb.  21,  1824  (see  p.95) 
was  ever  acted  upon  by  the  Legislature.  The  first  State  appropri¬ 
ation  for  the  academic  work  of  the  College  is  contained  in  an  act, 
passed  April  17,  1838.  which  reads  as  follows: — 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


103 


sary  buildings,  and  in  the  purchase  of  chemical  and 
philosophical  apparatus,  and  a  library;  and  they  have 
directed  their  chairman  to  bring  in  a  bill  for  an  appro¬ 
priation  to  those  purposes,  leaving  the  sum  blank. 

20.  INSTRUMENT  RENOUNCING  CLAIMS* 

ON  GENERAL  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY,  JUNE  24,  1826 

To  all  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come  or  may  concern: 

We,  the  trustees  of  the  Geneva  academy,  the  rector, 
churchwardens  and  vestrymen  of  Trinity  church  at  Gen¬ 
eva,  Orin  Clark,  rector  of  the  said  church  and  professor 
in  the  branch  theological  school  heretofore  established  at 
Geneva  in  connection  with  the  general  theological  semi¬ 
nary  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  in  the  United 
States,  Daniel  McDonald,  lately  principal  of  the  Geneva 
academy,  and  professor  in  the  same  branch  theological 
school,  and  Samuel  Colt  and  William  S.  DeZeng,  a  commit¬ 
tee  charged  with  the  collection  of  funds  for  the  permanent 
endowment  of  the  new  college  at  Geneva,  send  greeting. 

Whereas,  by  a  certain  instrument  of  writing  under 
our  seals,  dated  the  twentieth  day  of  July,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty-four, 
we  the  several  parties  above  named,  acting  for  ourselves 
and  on  behalf  of  all  others  interested  in  the  branch  the¬ 
ological  school  above  mentioned,  did  forever  renounce 

“An  act  to  appropriate  the  income  of  the  United  States’ de- 
posite  fund  to  the  purposes  of  education  and  the  diffusion  of 
knowledge: 

“Sec.  6.  Six  thousand  dollars  of  the  income  aforesaid 
shall,  for  the  period  of  five  years  and  until  otherwise  directed 
by  law,  be  annually  paid  to  Geneva  College,  to  be  applied  ex¬ 
clusively  by  said  college  to  the  payment  of  its  professors  and 
teachers.  Chap.  237,  Sess.  Laws  of  New  York,  1838. 

*Reprinted  from  Perry. 


104  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


all  connection  between  the  said  general  seminary  and 
branch  school,  and  all  claims  and  demands  by  or  on  the 
part  of  the  said  branch  school  upon  the  said  general 
seminary,  on  condition  that  the  said  general  seminary  should 
cause  the  sum  of  eight  thousand  dollars  to  be  appropriated 
towards  the  permanent  endowment  of  the  new  college 
then  proposed  to  be  established  at  Geneva,  or  should 
secure  to  its  use  and  benefit  the  interest  of  that  sum 
perpetually,  in  half-yearly  payments,  at  the  rate  of  six 
per  centum  per  annum. 

And  whereas,  the  said  then-proposed  college  has  since 
been  incorporated,  and  the  said  general  theological  semi¬ 
nary  has  since  caused  the  yearly  interest  of  eight  thousand 
dollars,  payable  half-yearly,  at  the  rate  of  six  per  centum 
per  annum,  to  be  secured  to  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  said 
college  by  means  of  a  grant  for  that  purpose  made  by  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Society  for  Promoting  Religion  and 
Learning  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  an  appropriation 
of  real  estate  satisfactorily  assuring  the  due  payment  of 
the  said  interest,  which  grant  and  appropriation  we  have 
accepted  and  do  accept  as  a  full  performance  of  the  con¬ 
dition  above  mentioned  by  and  on  the  part  of  the  said 
general  seminary.  Now,  therefore,  know  ye  that  we,  the 
several  parties  above  named,  acting  for  ourselves  respec¬ 
tively,  and  for  and  on  behalf  of  all  other  persons  and  bodies 
corporate  in  any  wise  interested  or  concerned  in  the  prem¬ 
ises,  in  consideration  of  the  said  grant  and  appropriation, 
and  of  the  sum  of  one  dollar  to  each  of  us  in  hand  paid  by 
the  trustees  of  the  general  theological  seminary  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  church  in  the  United  States,  have, 
and  each  of  us  hath,  ratified  and  confirmed,  and  by  these 
presents  do,  and  each  of  us  doth,  fully  and  unconditionally 
ratify  and  confirm,  the  instruments  of  renunciation  and 
release  hereinbefore  recited  and  referred  to. 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


105 


In  witness  whereof,  we  the  trustees  of  the  Geneva 
academy,  and  we  the  rector,  churchwardens  and  vestry¬ 
men  of  Trinity  church  at  Geneva,  have  caused  our  respec¬ 
tive  seals  to  be  affixed  to  these  presents;  and  we  the  said 
Grin  Clark,  Daniel  McDonald,  Samuel  Colt  and  William 
S.  DeZeng  have  to  these  presents  affixed  our  hands  and 
seals  this  twenty-fourth  day  of  June,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty-six. 

By  order  of  the  trustees  of  Geneva  academy. 

(Signed)  James  Rees, 

Chairman  and  Acting  Clerk,  (L.  S.) 

By  order  of  the  rector,  church -wardens  and  vestrymen 
of  Trinity  church,  Geneva. 

(Signed)  David  Hudson,  Clerk  of  Vestry,  (L.S.) 

“  Orin  Clark,  (L.S.) 

“  Daniel  McDonald,  (L.S.) 

“  Samuel  Colt,  (L.S.) 

“  W.  S.  DeZeng,  (L.S.) 

Sealed  and  delivered  in  presence  of 

(Signed)  D.  S.  Hall, 

“  C.  Shekell. 

21.  FIRST  COMMENCEMENT  OF  GENEVA  COLLEGE, 

august  2,  1826 

The  first  Commencement  of  Geneva  College*  was  held 
at  Trinity  Church,  in  this  village  on  Wednesday  last.  The 
friends  of  the  College  regarded  this  Commencement  with 
great  interest,  knowing  that  public  opinion  would  deter¬ 
mine  the  literary  character  of  the  Institution,  by  the 
proficiency  which  its  Students  might  then  exhibit.  The 
Examinations  in  all  the  branches  which  had  engaged  the 


*Communicated  to  The  Geneva  Gazette ,  Aug.  9,  1826. 


106  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


students  for  the  last  year,  were  commenced  and  continued 
during  eight  days  previous  to  the  Commencement,  and 
were  conducted  with  strictness  in  presence,  at  times,  of 
several  literary  gentlemen.  The  progress  of  the  students, 
and  their  acquisitions  in  every  department,  were  such  as  to 
afford  the  highest  gratification  to  such  strangers  as  wit¬ 
nessed  the  Examinations,  but  particularly  to  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  under  whose  care  and  by  whose  exertions  this 
Institution  has  been  reared.  In  fact,  the  whole  exhibition 
furnished  gratifying  proofs,  that  the  Professors  and  Tutors 
of  the  College  are  faithful  and  competent,  that  the  students 
have  devoted  themselves  with  industry  to  their  pursuits, 
and  that  the  Institution  cannot  fail  to  receive  due  honor 
and  respect  where  its  true  character  is  known. 

In  the  morning,  the  Students,  Officers  and  Trustees  of 
the  College,  with  several  gentlemen  from  the  adjacent 
towns,  collected  at  the  College,  and  from  thence  repaired 
in  procession  to  the  church,  where  the  exercises  were  con¬ 
ducted  in  the  manner  following: 

1.  Prayer. —  2.  Music. —  3.  Oration  on  Association 
by  A.  Stevens. —  4.  Oration  on  Glory  by  J.  F.  Ernst. — 
5.  Music. —  6.  On  the  Influence  of  Principle  by  H.  S. 
Atwater. —  7.  Oration  on  Biography  by  S.  Davis. 

Afternoon. —  8.  Music. —  9.  Oration  on  the  Character¬ 
istics  of  the  Age,  by  U.  M.  Wheeler. —  10.  Oration  on 
Individual  Influence,  by  H.  Gregory. —  11.  Music. — 12. 
Degrees  conferred. —  13.  Dismission. 

The  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  was  conferred  on  the 
following  gentlemen,  who  had  completed  the  regular  course 
of  studies  in  the  College  or  at  the  Academy  previous  to  the 
grant  of  a  charter:  Ulysses  M.  Wheeler,  Henry  Gregory, 
Richard  Salmon,  William  W.  Bostwick  and  Burton  H. 
Heacock. 

The  whole  was  conducted  with  strict  order,  and  the 
deep  attention  of  a  fashionable  and  enlightened  audience 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


107 


gave  evidence  of  the  pleasure  which  the  exercises  afforded. 
— The  Orations  of  Messrs.  Wheeler  and  Gregory  were 
admired  for  style  of  writing  as  well  as  depth  of  thought, 
and  convinced  the  hearer  that  the  speakers  were  conver¬ 
sant  with  the  taste  and  opinions  of  the  living  age,  as  well 
as  the  pages  of  abstract  science.  The  Orations  of  all  the 
young  gentlemen  were  highly  respectable,  and  those  of  the 
Juniors  gave  promise  that  when  they  shall  have  passed 
another  year  of  study,  their  Instructors  may  be  justly 
proud  to  recommend  them  for  the  honors  of  the  College. 
We  were  highly  pleased  to  see  several  gentlemen  and  ladies, 
from  the  neighboring  villages  and  towns,  and  have  no 
doubt  but  they  returned  home  with  favorable  impressions 
of  the  Institution.  We  hope,  and  confidently  believe, 
that  in  a  few  years,  the  annual  Commencement  of  this 
College  will  afford  an  interesting  day  to  a  liberal  and  en¬ 
lightened  public . 

But  it  is  not  merely  to  express  our  gratification  at  the 
exhibition  of  talent  afforded  by  the  students,  that  we  pen 
this  article;  but  also  to  communicate  to  the  public  other 
information  relative  to  the  doings  of  the  Trustees.  The 
Board  held  their  annual  session  on  the  day  previous  to, 
and  on  the  morning  and  evening  of  the  Commencement, 
at  which  much  that  relates  to  the  well  ordering  of  the 
College  was  done,  and  also  many  other  things,  in  which 
the  public  are  interested,  were  accomplished.  Among 
other  acts,  the  Reverend  Jasper  Adams,  now  President  of 
Charleston  College,  South  Carolina,  was  elected  President 
of  this  College,  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Potter,* *  who  declined  his 
appointment,  to  take  charge  of  a  congregation  in  Boston. 
Mr.  Adams’  reputation  as  a  man  of  science  is  established, 

/ 

*Rev.  Alonzo  Potter,  afterwards  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania.  At  the 
time  he  was  called  to  the  presidency,  Dec.  13, 1825,  he  was  only  twenty- 
five  years  old. 


108  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


as  he  has  been  a  Professor  in  Brown  University,  Rhode- 
Island,  and  was  elected  a  Professor  in  Dartmouth  College, 
which  he  declined.  It  is  expected  that  he  will  soon  repair 
to  his  place  in  this  College,  when  its  Faculty  will  be  com¬ 
pleted.  Janies  Wadsworth,  Esq.  of  Livingston  County, 
was  unanimously  elected  a  Trustee  of  the  College.  We 
rejoice  in  this  selection,  and  consider  it  a  pledge  that  the 
Trustees  are  determined  to  fill  all  vacancies  in  the  Board 
from  that  class  of  citizens  who  are  distinguished  for 
liberality  of  opinion,  as  well  as  just  conceptions  of  the  true 
nature  and  value  of  education. 

Measures  were  also  taken  to  engage  a  Professor  of  the 
French  Language . 


II*  The  Church  and  the  College 


1.  EXTRACT  FROM  BISHOP  HOBART’S  ADDRESS 

TO  THE  CONVENTION  OF  THE  DIOCESE,  OCT.  17,  1821  * 

In  the  city  of  New-York,  Columbia  College,  which  is 
constantly  rising  in  reputation,  affords  advantages  inferior 
to  no  other  institution  in  the  Union,  for  the  studies 
preparatory  to  the  ministry;  and  the  Corporation  of  Trini¬ 
ty  Church  having  transferred  the  annuity  granted  to  the 
Academy  at  Fairfield  to  a  similar  institution  at  Geneva, 
opportunities  will  be  thus  furnished  for  these  preparatory 
studies.  The  handsome  stone  building  which  is  erecting 
for  the  use  of  the  Academy,  in  which  also  accommodations 
are  to  be  afforded  for  the  theological  school,  is  situated  in 
the  village  of  Geneva,  immediately  on  the  bank  of  the 
Seneca  Lake,  commanding  a  view  of  this  extensive  and 
beautiful  sheet  of  water,  of  the  cultivated  shores  that 
confine  it,  and  of  the  mountains  that  bound  the  distant 
prospect.  It  is  considered  by  all  who  have  viewed  it 
as  one  of  the  most  interesting  situations  which  are  any 
where  to  be  found. 

Its  relative  advantages  are  not  less  important.  Geneva 
is  situated  in  the  midst  of  a  very  populous,  fertile,  and 
highly  cultivated  country,  having  a  water  communication 
of  a  few  miles  with  the  grand  canal  which  passes  through 
the  State,  and  being  thus  of  easy  access  from  the  extensive 
countries  watered  by  the  Western  Lakes,  and  from  those 
on  the  Atlantic  border.  And,  indulging  the  reasonable 
expectation,  that  the  Academy  there  will,  at  some  future 
period,  be  advanced  to  the  privileges  of  a  College,  we  must 


*Journal  of  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese  of  New  York,  1821,  p.  21. 

109 


110  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


be  forcibly  struck  with  the  immense  advantages  of  the 
contiguity  of  our  theological  school  to  an  institution 
of  this  description.  The  principal  school  in  the  city  of 
New-York,  and  the  branch  school  at  Geneva,  both  enjoy¬ 
ing  the  advantages  of  Colleges,  in  which  there  will  be  no 
influence  unfriendly  to  the  Church,  will  be  placed  under  as 
commanding  circumstances  as  could  well  be  expected. 


2.  BISHOP  HOBART’S  ADDRESS,  AND  THE  RESOLUTIONS 

OF  THE  CONVENTION,* * 

CONCERNING  THE  ENDOWMENT  OF  GENEVA  COLLEGE, 

OCT.  15,  1822 

As  connected  with  this  subject,  it  is  with  the  highest 
gratification  that  I  inform  you  of  the  incorporation  of  a 
College  at  Geneva,  in  this  state.  With  the  exception  of 
Columbia  College,  which,  eminently  useful  and  respectable 
as  it  is,  must,  from  obvious  circumstances,  accommodate 
almost  solely  the  citizens  of  New-York,  the  colleges  of  this 
state  are  under  the  management  of  non-Episcopalians. 
Extending  our  views  to  the  other  states  of  the  union,  the 
numerous  colleges  that  are  established  in  various  parts, 
with  increasing  funds  and  influence,  are,  with  one  or  two 
exceptions,  under  the  same  control.  The  fact  is  an 
alarming  one,  and  were  it  not  for  the  very  peculiar  cir¬ 
cumstances  of  depression  and  difficulty  under  which  she 
has  laboured,  and  which  rendered  all  her  exertions  neces¬ 
sary  for  providing  the  means  essential  to  her  existence, 
would  be  a  disgraceful  one  to  our  Church.  The  union 
between  science  and  religion,  and  their  reciprocal  influences, 

rj* 

*Journal  of  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese  of  New  York,  1822, 
pp.  20-22.  Cf.  report  of  New  York  Diocese  to  General  Convention, 
1826,  concerning  Geneva  College,  in  the  historical  sketch,  p.  18. 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


111 


are  so  intimate  and  powerful,  that  no  religious  community 
can  flourish  where  that  union  is  not  recognized,  and  that 
influence  maintained  in  literary  institutions  and  colleges 
subject  to  its  paramount  control.  There  is  no  instance 
of  any  universities  or  colleges  in  the  Christian  world,  in 
which  some  religious  denomination  has  not  directly  or 
indirectly  predominating  influence.  The  causes  of  this 
may  be  traced  to  the  intimate  union  between  science  and 
religion,  and  to  principles  deeply  seated  in  human  nature. 
And  it  is  believed  that  no  universities  or  colleges,  whatever 
may  be  their  professions,  will  long  be  managed  on  any 
other  footing.  But,  without  digressing  into  these  general 
views,  it  is  surely  obvious  that  Episcopalians,  in  common 
with  other  Christian  denominations,  ought  to  have 
colleges  in  which  their  candidates  for  orders  may  receive 
preparatory  instruction,  and  in  which  they  may  have  an 
opportunity  of  educating  their  sons  under  circumstances 
most  favourable  to  their  being  confirmed  in  those  princi¬ 
ples  and  views  of  religious  truth,  maintained  by  the  Church 
of  which  they  are  members. 

An  eminently  favourable  opportunity  of  obtaining  a 
college  of  this  description  is  now  afforded.  The  regents  of 
the  University  in  this  state,  recognising  the  right  of  all 
religious  denominations  to  colleges  of  their  own;  and 
viewing,  in  the  competition  thus  excited,  results  highly 
favourable  to  the  general  interests  of  science,  have,  with 
great  liberality,  granted  conditional  charters  for  two 
colleges,  one  at  Ithaca,  and  the  other  at  Geneva :  the  form¬ 
er  of  which,  it  is  understood,  will  be  under  Methodist 
influence,  and  the  latter  under  that  of  our  own  Church. 
Not  that  there  is  to  be  exacted  any  religious  test  for 
office,  or  any  exclusion  from  the  benefit  of  these  institutions 
of  those  of  other  denominations,  or  any  restraint  imposed 
on  the  religious  principles  of  the  students,  or  any  obstacles 


112  HOBART  :  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


presented  to  their  worshipping  where  they  may  think 
proper.  But  it  is  presumed  that,  without  infringing  on 
the  rights  or  privileges  of  others,  these  institutions  will  be 
managed  as  other  institutions  are,  with  an  especial  refer¬ 
ence  to  the  interests  of  those  religious  denominations  who 
have  the  principal  control  over  them. 

In  my  address  at  the  last  Convention,  I  took  the  liberty 
to  allude  to  the  eminent  advantages  of  Geneva  as  the  site 
of  a  literary  institution,  and  I  much  question  whether, 
in  any  part  of  the  continent,  a  place  can  be  found,  uniting 
so  many  advantages  for  a  college  which  is  to  accommodate 
Episcopalians  generally.  Central  in  its  situation  in  refer¬ 
ence  to  the  western  and  Atlantic  states;  immediately 
contiguous  to  the  canal,  the  great  water  communication 
between  them;  in  a  country  that  is  destined  to  be  the  gar¬ 
den  of  America,  affording  from  its  soil  the  richest  products, 
and  in  its  numerous  lakes  and  diversified  surface,  the  most 
interesting  and  picturesque  views,  the  healthy  village  of 
Geneva  unites  all  the  local  requisites  for  the  site  of  a 
literary  institution.  Our  Church  has  now  an  opportunity 
of  obtaining  a  college  that  may  be  made,  in  all  respects,  to 
answer  her  wishes;  and  much  is  it  to  be  desired  that  Epis¬ 
copalians,  laying  aside  all  local  jealousies  and  partialities, 
should  unite  their  liberal  and  zealous  efforts  in  the  estab¬ 
lishment  of  an  institution  that  will  be  honourable  to  their 
Church,  and  productive  of  incalculable  and  lasting  benefit. 
It  is  believed  that  the  institution  may  be  so  organized  as 
to  present  powerful  inducements  to  general  support. 

The  Committee  on  so  much  of  the  Bishop’s  Address  as 
relates  to  the  proposed  college  at  Geneva,  made  the  fol¬ 
lowing  report,  which  was  accepted: 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  so  much  of 
the  Address  of  the  Bishop  as  relates  to  the  establishment 
and  patronage  of  the  college,  proposed  to  be  founded  in 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


118 


the  village  of  Geneva,  beg  leave  to  submit  the  following 
resolutions  to  the  consideration  of  the  Convention:* 

Resolved ,  that  this  Convention  is  deeply  impress¬ 
ed  with  a  sense  of  the  advantages  that  would  result  from 
the  establishment  of  a  college,  combining  an  accurate 
and  extensive  course  of  literary  and  scientific  education 
with  a  system  of  religious  worship  and  instruction,  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  principles  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church ; 
and  that  in  their  opinion  the  local  situation  of  Geneva, 
and  the  conditions  of  the  charter  recently  granted  to 
the  college,  proposed  to  be  founded  in  that  village,  are 
eminently  favourable  to  the  attainment  of  these  objects. 

Resolved ,  that  the  Bishop  and  Standing  Commit¬ 
tee  of  this  diocess  be  requested  to  prepare  and  carry 
into  effect,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  approbation 
of  the  trustees  of  the  proposed  college,  such  a  plan  for 
the  collection  of  funds  and  the  endowment  of  the  college, 
as  may  seem  to  them  best  fitted  to  promote  the  general 
and  permanent  interests  of  the  Church,  and  to  rec¬ 
ommend  the  institution  to  the  patronage  and  confi¬ 
dence  of  Episcopalians  throughout  the  United  States. 

3.  APPLICATION  TO  THE  WARDENS  AND  VESTRY  OF 

TRINITY  CHURCH 

IN  THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK*)* 

Gentlemen: 

The  undersigned,  a  committee  of  the  Trustees  of 
Geneva  College,  beg  leave  respectfully  to  lay  before  you 
the  condition  and  prospects  of  that  College,  and  to  ask 
in  its  behalf  your  Christian  liberality. 

*  Accepted  Oct.  16,  1822.  Journal,  1822,  pp.  39-40. 
f  Reprinted  from  President  Hale’s  copy.  The  rest  of  the  foot¬ 
notes  to  this  document  are  all  part  of  the  original. 


114  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


The  College  originated  in  the  suggestion  of  Bishop 
Hobart,  who  aided  it  in  its  beginnings,  and  watched  its 
progress  with  great  interest  during  the  few  years  of  his 
subsequent  life. 

It  is  under  the  care  of  Churchmen,  and . has 

never  been  able,  from  the  want  of  means,  to  place  itself 
in  such  a  condition  as  to  enlist  warmly  the  feelings  of 
Churchmen.  Its  income  has  been  derived  mainly  from 
the  State,  and  just  sufficient  in  amount  to  support  its 
faculty,  without  enabling  it  to  purchase  books  for  its 
library,  or  apparatus  for  its  lecture-rooms.  It  has  not  had 
time  to  acquire  a  hold  upon  the  public  through  its  gradu¬ 
ates,  or  to  establish  a  permanent  reputation;  while  it  has 
had  to  compete  with  old  and  well  endowed  institutions, 
whose  graduates  were  in  every  village . 

Under  these  disadvantages  however,  the  College  has 
prospered.  In  ten  years  from  October  1836,  its  pupils 
increased  from  ten  to  eighty,  and  it  has  acquired  a  repu¬ 
tation  for  soundness  of  instruction,  second  to  none  in  the 
State.  The  law,  however,  under  which  it  has  received 
its  stipend  from  the  State,  is  repealed  by  the  new  Con¬ 
stitution;  a  permanent  renewal  of  the  grant  is  forbidden 
by  the  same  instrument;  and  the  College  must  close  its 
doors,  or  live,  if  it  can,  by  hanging  upon  the  skirts  of  the 
Legislature,  or  yield  itself  to  the  control  of  the  various 
denominations  around  it,  or  find  some  support  within  the 
Church. 

It  is  well  understood  that  Colleges  cannot  support  them¬ 
selves.  In  the  competition  of  more  than  one  hundred 
institutions  of  this  class  in  the  United  States,  term  bills* 

*The  term-bills  at  Geneva  College,  including  tuition,  room-rent, 
Janitor's  services,  etc.,  amount  to  only  $45  per  ann.;  about  the  aver¬ 
age  amount  of  term-bills  at  American  colleges. 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


115 


are  reduced  very  low;  and  funds  derived  from  public  or 
private  charity  are  a  principal  means  of  supporting  pro¬ 
fessorships  and  filling  libraries,  and  some  Colleges  have 
accumulated  from  the  same  source,  large  foundations  for 
the  assistance  of  indigent  students.* 

It  is  a  part  of  the  settled  policy  of  many  of  the  religious 
bodies  in  our  country  to  establish  and  endow  Colleges 
in  their  own  interests,  for  the  purpose  of  extending  their 
influence.  The  Presbyterians  and  Congregationalists 
have  sixty-three  Colleges.  Some  of  them  very  richly  en¬ 
dowed,  f  and  sustaining  bodies  of  learned  men  whose  in- 

*By  the  Charity  Funds  of  Union  College,  ninety-one  students 
were  aided  in  one  year. — Regents’  Report ,  1846. 

fit  is  difficult  to  determine  the  number  exactly.  The  number 
above  is  given  on  the  authority  of  the  American  Almanac,  1847, 
which  marks  many  of  the  colleges  as  being  in  the  interests  of  certain 
religious  bodies;  and  says,  “with  respect  to  the  colleges  which  are 
unmarked ,  the  prevailing  religious  influence  of  those  that  are  in  the 
New  England  States,  is  Congregationalism;  of  most  of  the  others, 
Presbyterianism.”  P.182.  Dr.  Baird,  in  his  “Religion  in  America,” 
assigns  42  colleges  to  the  Presbyterians  and  Congregationalists; 
excluding  Harvard  College,  one  Lutheran,  one  German  Reformed, 
two  Dutch  Reformed,  two  Cumberland  Presbyterian,  and  seven, 
the  religious  character  of  which  he  does  not  know.  He  assigns, 
also,  to  the  P.  E.  Church  twelve  colleges,  an  over-estimate. 

The  value  of  the  property  of  Harvard  College,  in  1840,  not  includ¬ 
ing  the  college  buildings ,  libraries ,  or  other  property  contained  therein , 
amounted  to  $646,235.17. — Quincy’s  Hist .,  Vol.  2,  Appendix. 

The  donations  and  legacies  to  the  Theological  Seminary  at  An¬ 
dover,  (Mass.),  from  four  gentlemen,  Messrs.  Bartlett,  Abbott, 
Norris,  and  Brown,  amounted  to  about  $400,000,  probably  more. 

It  is  estimated  that  in  the  city  of  Boston  alone,  the  donations , 
since  the  commencement  of  the  present  century,  for  theological 
education  and  other  religious  objects ,  have  amounted  to  $1,054,966.42 


To  colleges  and  other  institutions  of  instruction.  .  .  .  1,095,594.16 

To  charitable  institutions .  2,162,412.66 

To  miscellaneous  objects .  438,321.39 


$4,751,294.63 


Total 


116  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


fluence  upon  the  public  mind,  though  noiseless,  is  very 
extensive;  and  there  exists  among  them,  in  the  older 
States,  an  organized  society,  the  object  of  which  is  to 
raise  funds  systematically  for  the  support  of  their  Colleges 
at  the  west.*  The  Roman  Catholics  have  fifteen  Colleges, 
some  of  which  have  large  bodies  of  professors,  and  are 
richly  furnished  with  the  means  and  appliances  for  univer¬ 
sity  education.!  The  Methodists  have  thirteen  Colleges, 
and  the  Baptists  ten.  Out  of  this  great  number  of  Am¬ 
erican  Colleges,  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  has  but 
eight ,  authorized  to  confer  degrees;  of  which  one,  we  be¬ 
lieve,  exists  only  in  name,  and  of  the  rest  only  one  is  com¬ 
petently  endowed.  Thus  situated,  they  cannot  offer  equal 
advantages,  or  enter  into  equal  competition  with  others 
for  the  education  of  the  community.  Nay,  they  cannot 
hold  the  education  of  the  sons  of  Churchmen.  From  all 
we  can  learn,  we  believe  that  a  large  majority  of  the  sons 
of  Churchmen,  who  are  at  this  moment  receiving  a  college 
education  in  this  country  are  members  of  Colleges,  whose 
religious  inffuence  is  hostile  to  the  Church,  and  are  there 
acquiring  views  which  they  may  bring  with  them,  in  a 
very  few  years,  into  her  ministry  or  counsels. 

*“The  Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Collegiate  and  Theological 
Education  at  the  West.”  It  was  formed  in  New  York,  in  1844, 
and  derives  its  revenues  chiefly  from  New  England  and  New  York. 
Its  receipts  in  1844  were  $17,004.71;  in  1845,  $10,967.53;  in  1846, 
$16,034.78.  It  was  established  under  the  conviction,  as  Dr.  Todd 
expresses  it,  in  advocating  its  claims,  that  “colleges  are  essential 
to  the  Church  of  God.”  (See  Reports  and  Publications  of  the 
Society.) 

fit  is  stated  to  us  by  a  distinguished  Roman  Catholic  gentleman, 
that  the  Roman  Catholics  have  twenty-four  colleges  authorized  to 
confer  degrees.  The  number  of  their  clergy  is  but  709.  This  shews  an 
extraordinary  degree  of  effort  made  by  them  to  have  their  part  in  the 
higher  education  of  the  community. 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


117 


Geneva  College*  is,  in  regard  to  position,  most  favorably 
situated  for  exerting  a  wholesome  influence  if  furnished 
with  the  means.  There  is  no  existing  College  nearer  to  it 
on  the  east  than  80  or  90  miles :  and  none  west  within  the 
bounds  of  the  state.  It  is  thus  in  the  centre  of  a  larger 
and  better  peopled  territory,  unoccupied  by  such  institu- 


*The  colleges  in  the  interests  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 


are 


Trinity,  Hartford,  which  has  about  80 


students 


Columbia,  N.  Y. 
Geneva, 

Wm.  &  Mary’s,  Va. 
Kenyon,  O. 

Jubilee,  Ill. 

St.  James,  Md. 
Shelby,  Ky. 
Burlington,  N.  J. 


<( 


<< 


<< 


<< 


<« 


120 

70  or  80 
98 

40  or  50 

few  in  college  proper. 

•  <<  <  < 
few 

few  (if  any) 

only  preparatory  students. 


The  whole  number  of  students  in  the  Church  Colleges  in  this 
country,  pursuing  the  college  course,  cannot  be  more  than  four 
hundred,  part  of  whom  are  not  Churchmen. 

The  whole  number  of  students,  in  all  the  American  colleges,  is 
about  10,000.  It  is  estimated  sometimes  much  higher.  The  Church 
colleges,  then,  are  not  educating  more  than  one-twenty -fifth  (1-25) 
of  the  students  pursuing  a  college  course. 

The  number  of  Presbyterian  clergymen  is  1643,  old-school,  and 
1263  new-school;  of  Congregationalists,  Trinitarian,  1275;  Unitarian, 
250;  total,  4431.  The  number  of  clergymen  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church,  1236;  i.e.  they  are  to  the  Congregational  and 
Presbyterian  as  1  to  3.58.  But  the  principal  colleges,  and  those  most 
numerously  attended  and  best  endowed,  are  all  under  the  influence 
of  these  denominations;  and  if  we  take  43  as  their  number  of  colleges, 
adding  Harvard  to  Dr.  Baird’s  42,  they  will  be  found  to  be  educating 
not  much  less  than  6000,  while  we  are  educating  only  400,  i.e.  one- 
fifteenth  as  many.  If  the  number  of  the  sons  of  Churchmen,  in  the 
course  of  college  education,  is  as  large  in  proportion  as  the  number  of 
Presbyterians  and  Congregationalists,  in  order  to  educate  all  our 
own  children,  we  ought  to  have  1800  in  our  colleges,  instead  of  400. 
It  would  seem,  then,  that  we  are  not  educating  one-fourth  part  of 
our  own  young  men  who  are  at  college. 


118  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


tions,  than  any  other  College  in  the  Northern  and  Eastern 
states.  It  is  on  one  of  the  great  routes  between  the  east 
and  the  west.  It  is  in  the  centre  of  a  young  and  vigorous 
Diocese,  which  is  at  the  same  time  the  most  conservative 
portion  of  the  state,  and  every  year  it  is  becoming  more  and 
more  an  object  of  its  interest  and  hope. 

But  with  all  these  advantages,  and  in  this  dearth  of 
Church  Colleges,  this  College  must  stop,  if  some  sufficient 
resource  cannot  be  found  in  its  present  emergency.  There 
is  no  hope  of  continued  legislative  patronage.  The  Dio¬ 
cese  of  Western  New  York  cannot  furnish  the  necessary 
endowments.  About  half  its  parishes  are  missionary 
stations,  sustained  by  the  contributions  of  the  rest,  and  of 
the  rest  few  have  long  been  independent  of  missionary 
aid.  We  cannot  without  an  effort  abandon  it  to  the  care 
of  others.  What  then  shall  we  do?  All  eyes  turn  to  you. 
The  common  voice  of  the  Church  and  of  the  public  di¬ 
rects  us  to  you.  Private  benevolence  hesitates,  because 
the  College  is  not  established,  and  we  know  not  where  to 
find  an  individual,  who  will  give,  as  Bartlett  of  Mass¬ 
achusetts  gave  to  Andover,  by  hundreds  of  thousands, 
and  secure  it  at  once  a  permanent  character. 

Within  the  territory  now  occupied  only  by  this  College, 
two  others*  have  been  chartered,  but  are  not  likely  under 
present  circumstances  to  go  into  operation.  Should  the 
ground  be  made  vacant  by  the  closing  of  this,  one  or  both 
would  soon  be  ready  to  take  its  place,  and  not  only  would 
there  be  the  loss  of  its  influence  to  the  Church,  but  the 
substitution  of  an  opposite  one. 

We  appeal  to  you  whether  the  Church  can  afford  to  lose 
this  influence,  small  as  it  is  at  present,  and  the  hope  of 
the  much  greater  influence,  which  it  may  exert,  with  more 

^University  of  Buffalo,  and  University  of  Western  New  York 
at  Rochester. 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


119 


ample  means  and  under  more  favorable  circumstances. 
Is  it  not  of  the  highest  importance  to  the  Church  that  its 
sons  have  their  training  during  the  most  susceptible  and 
dangerous  period  of  their  lives,  within  the  influence  of  the 
Church’s  care  and  teaching  and  prayers?  What  can  she 
expect,  if  she  sends  them  out  of  her  own  pale  for  education, 
but  that  they  will  bring  within  her  precincts,  the  opinions, 
which  they  have  learned  without?  And  has  not  the 
Church  a  duty  to  the  State  also,  to  exert  her  conservative 
influence,  as  far  as  she  may,  in  the  education  of  its  leading 
minds :  and  how  far  such  an  influence  may  reach,  or  how 
much  its  reaction  may  benefit  herself,  who  can  tell? 

We  present  the  matter  to  you  and  ask  you  earnestly  to 
consider,  whether  in  the  present  state  of  the  Church  and 
the  country,  and  the  present  deficiency  of  Church  Schools 
of  the  highest  class,  any  object  more  urgently  calls  for 
ample  and  liberal  provision.  We  ask  you  to  consider  the 
intimate  relation,  which  in  a  Christian  country  must  exist 
between  religion  and  learning;  the  influence,  which  Uni¬ 
versities  and  Colleges  have  exerted  and  will  exert  upon  the 
Church  for  good  or  evil:  the  resource  which  the  Church 
of  England  has  in  her  Universities  for  the  supply  of  her 
clergy,  and  the  support  they  give  her,  through  their  sons, 
in  all  her  trials;  and  to  say  whether  the  American  Church 
can  safely  leave  the  University  education  of  her  children, 
their  training  in  morals  and  philosophy  to  rationalistic  and 
latitudinarian  teaching,  and  hope  to  preserve  her  purity, 
or  to  avoid  the  introduction  of  theories,  foreign  to  her 
principles,  into  her  counsels,  or  of  a  tone  of  mind,  foreign 
to  her  discipline,  into  all  her  ministries.  We  lay  our  re¬ 
quest  before  you  not  only  in  the  name  of  the  Trustees  of 
Geneva  College,  but  of  the  Diocese  of  Western  New  York, 
which  unites  with  us  in  our  application.  We  come  to 
you  as  the  Mother  Church  of  that,  as  well  as  of  your  own 


120  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


Diocese,  and  as  possessing  the  means  to  do  this  important 
work,  which  we  know  not  where  else  to  find.* 

We  know  that  the  funds  which  you  hold  are  Church 
funds,  and  we  do  not  ask  you  to  give,  but  to  endow  a 
Church  institution.  We  do  not  ask  you  to  give,  but  upon 
sufficient  security,  that  your  benefactions  will  serve  the 
pious  ends  for  which  they  are  given.  We  suggest  there¬ 
fore,  (1,)  that  whatever  endowments  you  may  give,  shall 
be  given  for  specified  purposes,  and  in  specified  amounts, 
and  not  in  one  gross  sum  for  general  objects  to  be  used 
according  to  discretion:  (2,)  that  they  be  given  in  trust; 
and,  (3,)  under  such  conditions,  as  will  tend  to  secure  that 
use  of  them,  which  as  Churchmen,  you  must  seek;  and, 
(4,)  with  such  farther  security  for  their  faithful  use  and 
the  fulfilment  of  the  conditions,  as  prudence  may  devise. 
We  present  herewith,  for  your  consideration,  some  sug¬ 
gestions  tending  to  this  end,  and  a  farther  sketch,  which 
will  shew  what  amount  of  funds  may  be  necessary  for 
setting  the  college  upon  a  proper  foundation;  not  for 
doing  all,  which  is  desirable,  but  to  give  it  permanence  and 
efficiency  in  the  view  of  the  public,  and  to  secure  to  it  the 
confidence  and  zeal  of  those,  who  should  be  its  friends,  and 
to  enable  it  to  assume  its  proper  rank  as  a  College,  and 
to  exert  that  degree  of  influence,  which  its  advantageous 
position,  and  the  character  it  has  already  acquired  for 
soundness  of  instruction,  will  with  proper  means  and 
appliances,  enable  it  most  easily  to  do. 

Benj.  Hale,  William  H.  DeLancey, 

J.  H.  Hobart,  J.  W^atson  Williams, 

April  22,  1847.  Committee. 

*Permit  us  respectfully  to  suggest,  in  the  words  of  Dr.  Moore, 
that,  from  some  of  the  early  documents,  “it  may  not  unreasonably 
be  inferred,  that  the  grant  of  the  King’s  Farm  to  the  Corporation 
[of  Trinity  Church]  had  been  made  with  a  view  to  the  ad¬ 
vancement  of  learning,  as  well  as  religion.”  (See  Dr.  M.’s  Historical 
Sketch  of  Columbia  College,  p.  8.)  We  presume,  of  learning  in  alli¬ 
ance  with  religion. 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


121 


4.  MINUTE  AND  RESOLUTION  ADOPTED  BY  THE  COR¬ 
PORATION  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW  YORK 

IN  RESPONSE  TO  THE  APPLICATION  FOR  AID  FROM  GENEVA 

COLLEGE  * 

On  the  12th  of  May,  1848,  the  following  minute  and 
resolution  were  adopted  by  the  corporation  of  Trinity 
Church : 

“The  vestry  then  considered  the  resolution  heretofore 
submitted  by  the  committee,  to  whom  was  referred  the 
application  of  Geneva  College,  together  with  their  report 
and  the  accompanying  statement  of  the  Bishop  of  Western 
New  York;  and  the  same  having  been  discussed  it  was, 
therefore, 

“ Resolved ,  That,  for  the  purpose  of  promoting 
religious  education  in  connection  with  the  church  in  this 
State,  it  is  expedient  to  endow  the  college  at  Geneva, 
in  the  diocese  of  Western  New  York,  with  an  annuity  of 
$6,000,  to  commence  on  the  1st  of  May,  1866;  such  sum 
to  be  thereafter  annually  expended  in  the  support  of  pro¬ 
fessors  and  tutors,  and  upon  terms,  conditions,  and 
provisos,  and  with  checks  to  be  hereafter  settled,  so  as  to 
insure  its  application  to  the  uses  intended,  provided  the 
college  shall  raise,  by  subscription  or  other  grants,  a  suffi¬ 
cient  sum  to  insure  the  continuance  of  the  institution 
in  its  late  efficiency,  until  the  endowment  of  this  church 
shall  be  available. 

“And  it  was  referred  to  the  same  committee  to  consider 
and  report  the  proper  terms,  conditions,  provisos,  and 
checks  aforesaid.” 


^Reprinted  from  Perry. 


122  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 

5.  EXTRACTS  FROM  PRESIDENT  HALE’S  LETTER  TO 
THE  REV.  WILLIAM  BERRIAN,  D.D.,  RECTOR  OF  TRINITY 

CHURCH,  NEW  YORK  * 

Geneva  College,  May  26,  1851. 

Reverend  and  Dear  Sir, 

I  beg  leave  to  present  you  a  few  suggestions  touching 
the  subject  on  which  I  had  the  pleasure  of  conversing  with 
you  recently,  when  I  was  in  New  York,  and  to  request 
you  to  bring  it  to  the  consideration  of  the  Vestry  of  Trinity 
Church  in  such  way  as  you  may  deem  advisable. 

We  have  as  I  informed  you  made  the  experiment  for 
several  years  of  carrying  on  this  College  without  adequate 
means,  and  we  have  as  we  believe  accomplished  all  that 
could  be  accomplished  under  our  circumstances,  and  the 
conclusion  to  which  we  have  deliberately  come  is  that  with¬ 
out  adequate  permanent  endowment  any  such  degree  of  suc¬ 
cess  as  would  be  satisfactory  to  ourselves  or  to  the  Church 
is  impossible . 

It  is  impossible  at  present  to  raise  endowments  for  the 
support  of  the  College  in  Western  New  York,  adequate 
to  its  present  wants,  by  means  of  subscriptions;  and  aid 
in  the  way  of  legacies  or  large  donations  cannot  be  expected 
from  any  private  sources  until  the  College  shall  have  ac¬ 
quired  strength  and  permanency . 

As  our  only  practicable  resource  we  turn  to  the  Vestry 
of  Trinity  Church  and  beg  to  ask  the  members  of  that 
venerable  Corporation  whether  they  cannot  make  their 
generous  promise  of  an  endowment  to  this  College  of 
present  effect.  We  ask  no  consideration  for  ourselves 
as  individuals,  but  we  ask  the  Vestry  to  consider  whether 
in  the  present  state  of  the  Church  any  charity  is  so  impor- 

*Printed  from  a  copy  of  the  original  letter  in  the  Archives  of  the 
College. 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


123 


tant  as  that  which  provides  for  the  right  education  of  the 
sons  of  the  Church,  we  ask  them  to  consider  whether  there 
is  any  point  in  which  the  Church  in  this  country  exhibits 
itself  so  discreditably,  or  so  far  fails  in  its  duty  to  its 
own  children  and  in  wise  policy,  as  in  its  great  inferiority 
to  all  the  principal  sects,  in  the  number  and  especially 
in  the  endowments  and  resources  of  its  Colleges. 

It  was  with  a  wise  forethought  that  Bishop  Hobart 
moved  the  establishment  of  this  College  while  the  ground 
in  Western  New  York  was  yet  unoccupied,  and  in  advance 
of  the  wants  of  the  Church;  but  through  the  utter  inade¬ 
quacy  of  its  means,  it  has  not  been  able  to  use  this  advan¬ 
tage  effectively,  and  it  now  sees  a  College  established  at 
Rochester  by  the  Baptists  with  an  endowment  of  $150,000, 
and  another  at  Lima  established  by  the  Methodists  with 
an  endowment  of  more  than  $100,000,  and  both  coming 
into  full  operation,  with  all  the  eclat  and  shew  of  success 
which  the  energy  and  activity  of  these  sects  know  how  to 
give  them.  It  has  seen  moreover  in  the  Legislature  a 
disposition  to  give  to  these  two  Colleges  on  the  ground  of 
what  they  had  accomplished  in  the  way  of  endowments, 
almost  any  sum  they  ventured  to  ask. 

This  College  now  stands  before  the  public  as  the  only 
one  avowedly  a  Church  College  in  the  State. 

Its  income  from  the  payments  of  the  students  is  and  must 
be  small,  the  greater  part  of  its  original  endowment  having 
been  derived  from  the  sale  of  certificates  securing  to  the 
holders  twenty  years  of  free  tuition.  More  than  two 
hundred  of  these  are  now  out.  It  has  lost  the  advantage 
of  priority.  It  is  overshadowed  on  its  own  ground.  To 
put  itself  on  an  equality  with  the  newer  Colleges,  it  must 
have  endowments  and  it  must  get  them  from  Church 
sources . 

And  allow  me  to  add  that  the  present  time,  marked  as 
the  third  jubilee  of  a  great  Society,  to  which  the  Church 


124  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 

in  this  country,  under  God,  owes  so  much,  is  peculiarly 
appropriate  for  an  act  which  would  make  noble  provision 
for  one  of  the  most  pressing  wants  of  the  Church,  and, 
more  than  any  other  single  act,  give  her  influence,  and  that 
in  many  ways,  upon  the  community  in  which  we  dwell. 

You  will  pardon  this  long  letter  for  the  sake  of  the 
cause  which  I  plead  and  believe  me  to  be 

Most  respectfully  and  truly 

Your  friend  and  brother, 

Benj.  Hale. 


6.  RESOLUTION  ADOPTED  BY  THE  CORPORATION  OF 

TRINITY  CHURCH,  NEW  YORK 

IN  RESPONSE  TO  A  SECOND  APPEAL  FROM  GENEVA  COLLEGE* 

NOVEMBER  14,  1851 

“ Resolved ,  That  the  promised  endowment  to  Ge¬ 
neva  College  made  by  this  vestry  on  the  12th  of  May, 
1848,  of  $6000  per  annum,  to  commence  on  the  1st  of  May, 
1866,  be  so  modified  as  to  allow  instead  thereof  $3000 
per  annum  in  perpetuity,  payable  quarterly,  to  commence 
from  the  first  day  of  the  present  college  term,  provided 
that  the  trustees  of  Geneva  College  assent  to  such  modifi¬ 
cation.” 


^Reprinted  from  Perry. 


III.  The  English  Course 

1.  A  COURSE  OF  EDUCATION 

PROPOSED  TO  BE  PURSUED  IN  GENEVA  COLLEGE* 

Geneva,  March  1st,  1824. 

Sir: — 

WE  beg  leave  briefly  to  make  you  acquainted  with 
the  outlines  of  a  Course  of  Education  proposed  to  be 
pursued  in  the  Geneva  College. 

The  republican  institutions  of  these  United  States,  and 
the  general  consent  of  all  classes  of  citizens  that  such 
institutions  can  be  preserved  pure  only  by  maintaining 
an  unprivileged  equality  among  the  citizens,  demand  a 
respectful  deference  of  every  association. 

That  the  blessings  of  civil  liberty  —  real  blessings  only 
when  shared  equally  among  all  ranks  of  people  —  may 
be  extended  as  far  as  possible,  and  continued  as  long  as 
possible,  a  general  diffusion  of  useful  knowledge  seems 
indispensably  necessary.  This  is  so  universally  acknowl¬ 
edged  by  all  enlightened  politicians,  and  is  so  universally 
received  in  these  United  States,  both  theoretically  and 
practically,  that  it  needs  no  enforcement  from  any  single 
institution  of  learning. 

But  there  is  another  light  in  which  the  diffusion  of  knowl¬ 
edge  may  be  viewed  as  of  the  highest  importance  to  the 
community  at  large.  It  is  where  practical  information 
is  communicated  to  citizens  in  all  stations  of  life,  enabling 
them  to  add  pleasure  to  business,  and  extend  their  exer¬ 
tions  for  the  means  of  domestic  comfort  into  fields  of  re¬ 
search  hitherto  confined  to  the  philosopher. 


*The  earliest  printed  document  circulated  by  the  College, 

125 


126  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


The  present  extensive  application  of  the  discoveries  in 
Chemistry  to  improvements  in  Agriculture  and  the  various 
Manufactures  convenient  or  necessary  to  human  life, 
demonstrate  in  the  fullest  manner  the  utility  of  diffusing 
a  practical  knowledge  of  the  Arts  and  Sciences  among  all 
ranks  of  citizens,  rather  than  confine  that  knowledge  to  the 
closet  of  the  philosopher. 

For  these  reasons  it  is  proposed,  should  the  plan  receive 
the  approbation  of  the  Honorable  the  Regents  of  the 
University,  to  institute  in  the  Geneva  College, 
besides  the  regular  Course  of  Study  pursued  in  similar 
Institutions,  a  totally  distinct  Course,  in  direct  reference 
to  the  practical  business  of  life,  by  which  the  Agricultur¬ 
ist,  the  Merchant,  and  the  Mechanic  may  receive  a  prac¬ 
tical  knowledge  of  what  genius  and  experience  have  dis¬ 
covered,  without  passing  through  a  tedious  Course  of 
C  la  ssical  Studies . 

Students  of  certain  qualifications  and  age  shall  be  ad¬ 
mitted  Members  of  the  College,  with  all  the  privileges 
of  it,  to  pursue  a  full  Course  of  the  following  Studies, 
under  the  appointed  Instructors. 

1.  Under  the  English  Professor  they  shall  study  the 
Philosophy  of  English  Grammar ,  Geography ,  Rhetoric , 
History ,  English  Composition ,  Moral  Philosophy ,  Logic , 
Metaphysics ,  Evidences  of  Christianity ,  and  shall  practise 
Public  Speaking. 

2.  Under  the  Professor  of  Mathematics  they  shall 
study  Geometry;  Trigonometry;  Land  Surveying ,  theoretical 
and  practical;  Mensuration ,  generally;  Navigation ;  Level¬ 
ling ,  with  reference  to  Canals  and  Aqueducts ;  Hydraulics , 
as  applied  to  machinery  driven  by  Water  power;  Steam 
power;  Natural  Philosophy ,  and  Astronomy  the  use  of 
Mathematical  Instruments ,  the  principles  of  Architectural 
proportions  and  Bridge  building ,  Drawing  of  plans ,  &c . 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


127 


3.  Under  the  Professor  of  Chemistry  shall  be  studied 
Chemistry;  the  Principles  of  Dyeing ,  Bleaching ,  &c.;  the 
nature  and  use  of  different  Earths  and  Soils;  the  fertil¬ 
izing  qualities  and  effects  of  different  Substances;  Min¬ 
eralogy  and  Botany. 

4.  This  Course  of  Study  shall  consume  at  least  two 
years,  and  the  Students  shall  be  classed  by  years,  as  in 
the  Classical  departments  of  the  College. 

5.  Students  pursuing  this  Course  shall  be  subject  to 
the  same  number  of  public  Examinations  in  every  year 
as  are  the  Classical  Students;  and  shall  equally  conform 
to  all  the  By-Laws  of  the  College. 

6.  Upon  the  expiration  of  the  prescribed  term  of  study, 
such  Students  in  this  minor  Course  as  shall  appear,  upon 
public  Examination,  to  merit  it,  shall  receive  from  the 
President,  on  Commencement  Day,  if  the  President  be  so 
authorized  by  the  Honorable  the  Regents  of  the  Universi¬ 
ty,  an  English  Diploma,  signed  by  the  President  and 
Professors  of  the  College,  and  which  shall  be  considered 
an  honorary  testimony  of  application  to  Practical  Studies, 
as  the  other  Diploma  of  the  College  is  of  Classical  and 
Theoretical  Studies . 

We  are ,  respectfully , 

Your  most  obt.  Servts . 

Samuel  Colt, 

Wm.  S.  De  Zeng, 

Committee  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 


The  preceding  and  nextToIlowing  documents  are  the  earliest  known 
publications  of  the  College,  and  only  a  single  copy  of  either,  now  in 
the  College  Archives,  has  apparently  survived.  The  former  (p.  125) 
is  merely  a  letter,  printed  without  title  on  the  first  page  of  a  heavy 
four-page  foolscap  sheet;  the  latter  is  an  octavo  pamphlet.  The  title 
page  given  opposite  is  a  very  close  reproduction  of  the  original. 


OBSERVATIONS 


UPON 

THE  PROJECT 


ESTABLISH]!?}© 

GENEVA  COLLEGE 


NEW -YORK : 

PRINTED2BY  T.  AND  J.  SWORDS, 
No.  99  Pearl-Street 


1824 


OBSERVATIONS,  &c. 


The  good  influence  of  seminaries  of  learning  upon  the 
dearest  interests,  both  civil  and  religious,  of  communities 
of  men,  has  been  so  fully  experienced,  and  is  now  so  gener¬ 
ally  acknowledged,  that  no  apology  need  be  offered  for  call¬ 
ing  the  patient  attention  of  the  intelligent  and  liberal 
minded  reader  to  these  few  pages. 

The  Regents  of  the  University  of  New-York  have  grant¬ 
ed  to  the  Trustees  of  Geneva  Academy  a  Charter  and  Col¬ 
lege  privileges,  on  condition  of  their  raising  an  income  of 
$4000  within  a  certain  period.  The  requisite  sum  has  very 
nearly  been  obtained  by  liberal  donations  and  subscrip¬ 
tions  from  the  country.  Still,  however,  additional  funds 
are  wanted,  not  only  to  secure  the  Charter,  but  also, 
when  secured,  to  place  the  College  upon  a  respectable  and 
useful  foundation.  The  design  of  the  following  observa¬ 
tions  is  to  show  the  importance  of  the  proposed  institu¬ 
tion,  and  to  explain  its  peculiar  claims,  arising  both  from 
the  plan  of  instruction  to  be  pursued,  and  from  the  great 
privileges  which  it  holds  forth  to  those  who  may  be  in¬ 
clined  to  become  its  patrons. 

In  regard  to  its  location,  Geneva  College  will  combine 
almost  every  advantage  which  could  be  desired.  *“Cen- 
tral  in  its  situation,  in  reference  to  the  Western  and  At¬ 
lantic  States,  immediately  contiguous  to  the  Canal,  the 
great  water  communication  between  them;  in  a  country 
that  is  destined  to  be  the  garden  of  America,  affording  from 
its  soil  the  richest  products,  and  in  its  numerous  Lakes 
and  diversified  surface  the  most  interesting  and  picturesque 

*Bishop  Hobart’s  Address  to  the  Convention  of  1822. 


131 


132  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 

views,  the  healthy  village  of  Geneva  unites  all  the  local 
requisites  for  the  site  of  a  literary  institution.”  In 
addition  to  these  advantages  of  a  healthy  climate,  beauty 
of  the  surrounding  scenery,  and  great  facility  of  communi¬ 
cation  with  an  extensive  country,  and  also  with  the  city 
of  New-York,  it  is  to  be  noticed  that  the  expenses  of 
living  are  now,  and  must  always  continue,  to  be  extremely 
moderate.  Good  boarding  may  be  obtained  for  one 
dollar  or  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  per  week.  The 
Trustees  of  the  Academy  have  already  erected  a  handsome 
stone  building  sufficiently  large  to  accommodate  one 
hundred  students  with  rooms.  Both  the  building  and  the 
situation  in  which  it  is  placed  are  well  calculated  for  a 
College.  “It  is  immediately  on  the  bank  of  the  Seneca 
Lake,  commanding  a  view  of  this  extensive  and  beautiful 
sheet  of  water,  of  the  cultivated  shores  that  confine  it , 
and  of  the  mountains  that  bound  the  distant  prospect. 
It  is  considered  by  all  who  have  viewed  it  as  one  of  the 
most  interesting  situations  which  are  anywhere  to  be 
found.” 

Having  spoken  of  the  location  of  the  projected  College, 
something  must  be  said  in  regard  to  the  course  of  in¬ 
struction  which  will  be  established  in  it.  The  requisites 
for  admission,  and  the  studies  to  be  pursued  by  those  who 
continue  the  full  period  of  four  years,  will  be  the  same  as 
adopted  in  the  most  respectable  Colleges  of  our  country. 
But  in  connexion  with  this,  a  plan  of  education  is  intended, 
which,  as  it  differs  in  several  important  particulars  from 
those  at  present  existing  in  any  of  our  collegiate  institu¬ 
tions,  will  require  a  more  particular  description. 

The  general  design  is  to  establish  an  institution,  which, 
in  connexion  with  the  collegiate  course  of  four  years,  shall 
possess  a  system  of  education  to  be  gone  through  in  a 
shorter  period,  (say  two  years,)  and  comprising  all  the 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


133 


literary  and  scientific  information  necessary  to  render 
young  men  who  are  designed  for  the  other  walks  of  life, 
as  agriculture,  merchandise,  mechanism,  and  manufactur¬ 
ing,  useful  and  respectable. 

Our  collegiate  institutions  have  heretofore  been  estab¬ 
lished  with  the  design  of  preparing  young  men  for  the 
learned  professions.  Their  course  of  discipline  and  in¬ 
struction  has  this  object  principally,  and  perhaps  solely, 
in  view.  So  obviously  is  this  the  fact,  that  a  young  man, 
who,  after  leaving  College,  turns  his  attention  to  merchan¬ 
dise  or  farming,  is  considered  as  having  in  a  great  measure 
lost  four  years  of  his  time  at  the  most  important  period 
of  his  life.  Part,  and  a  very  considerable  part  of  his 
studies  has  no  important  bearing  upon  his  profession,  and 
the  habits  he  acquires  at  College  are  in  general  not  favour¬ 
able  to  his  future  pursuits.  All  the  advantages  he  ob¬ 
tains  of  literary  and  scientific  information  might  be  gained 
under  another  system  much  more  efficaciously,  and  at 
a  far  less  expense  of  time.  The  proposed  institution  will 
supply  this  desideratum.  It  wfil  receive  young  men  not 
intended  for  the  learned  professions.  In  our  Colleges, 
Chemistry,  Mathematics,  and  Natural  Philosophy  are 
taught  as  liberal  sciences,  both  for  the  sake  of  the  discipline 
they  give  to  the  mind,  and  because  a  general  knowledge 
of  their  principles  is  desirable  in  every  walk  of  life,  and  is 
absolutely  essential  to  him  who  would  be  esteemed  a 
scholar.  Geneva  College,  in  addition  to  the  mode  of 
teaching  these  sciences  to  the  general  scholar,  will  also 
teach  them  practically,  that  is,  with  a  direct  application 
of  their  principles  to  the  purposes  of  life.  Thus  he  who  is 
designed  to  be  a  farmer  will  have  an  opportunity  of  attend¬ 
ing  lectures  upon  agricultural  Chemistry,  and  will  obtain 
all  that  valuable  information  which  this  science  has  thrown 
upon  the  nature  of  soils  and  manures.  The  manufacturer 


134  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


will  learn  to  apply  the  principles  of  the  same  science  to  the 
various  departments  of  dyeing,  tanning,  bleaching,  &c. 
The  mechanician,  the  surveyor,  and  the  civil  engineer,  will 
also  be  instructed  in  the  various  branches  of  Mathematics 
and  Natural  Philosophy,  which  are  so  absolutely  essential 
to  them  in  their  different  operations. 

We  need  not  speak  of  the  assistance  which  the  sciences 
are  calculated  to  afford  to  the  uses  of  life.  In  this  State 
especially,  where  so  much  has  already  been  done,  and 
where  so  much  remains  yet  to  be  accomplished  in  the  way 
of  canals;  where  our  individual  interests  as  landholders 
are  so  much  involved  in  the  skilful  use  of  the  surveyor’s 
art;  where  we  have  such  an  immense  population  of  farmers, 
whose  interests  are  so  connected  with  improvements  in 
agriculture;  where  we  have  so  many  manufacturers,  who 
are  deeply  concerned  in  the  various  applications  of  machin¬ 
ery;  where  not  only  the  surface  of  our  country  is  to  be 
infinitely  improved,  and  rendered  more  and  more  produc¬ 
tive  to  the  commercialist,  the  manufacturer,  and  the 
farmer,  but  where  we  are  yet  to  look  for  immense  riches 
in  the  mines  contained  in  its  bosom — what  can  we  expect 
to  accomplish  without  a  succession  of  men  having  an  ex¬ 
tensive  practical  knowledge  of  Chemistry,  Mineralogy, 
Mathematics,  and  Natural  Philosophy?  And  yet  we  have 
not  one  public  institution,  with  college  privileges,  which 
devotes  its  attention  to  this  valuable  class  of  men,  and  our 
Legislature  has  not  contributed  anything  to  the  endow¬ 
ment  of  such  a  system  of  practical  education.  Our  divines, 
our  physicians,  and  lawyers,  have  Colleges  erected  to  give 
them  four  years  of  preparatory  instruction  for  their  sepa¬ 
rate  professions;  and  to  these  institutions,  our  Legislature, 
and  in  several  instances  individuals,  have  exhibited  a 
splendid  munificence  worthy  of  all  praise.  Is  it  not  time 
that  some  particular  attention  should  be  bestowed  upon 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


135 


the  education  of  farmers,  mechanics,  manufacturers,  and 
merchants;  and  that  both  our  Legislature  and  liberal 
minded  individuals  should  be  called  upon  to  give  to  an 
institution  having  this  object  in  view,  some  of  that  pat¬ 
ronage  which  has  been  extended  with  such  a  noble  and  en¬ 
lightened  liberality  to  our  different  Colleges. 

In  establishing  a  new  College,  there  will  be  a  great  ad¬ 
vantage  derived  from  uniting  with  it  such  a  system  of 
education  as  the  above,  rather  than  having  this  system 
upon  a  separate  foundation.  This  plan  will  be  more 
economical,  for  the  professors  who  give  the  usual  course 
of  instruction  to  the  young  men  designed  for  the  learned 
professions,  may,  with  comparatively  little  additional 
exertion,  prepare  a  course  for  young  men  who  intend  to 
follow  other  pursuits.  The  professor  of  Chemistry  may 
teach  this  science  in  its  practical  applications,  and  may  also 
give  such  instruction  in  Mineralogy  and  Geology  as  will 
enable  the  future  farmer  or  surveyor  to  detect  the  mineral 
wealth  which  may  lay  beneath  the  surface  of  the  ground. 
The  professor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  and  Experi¬ 
mental  Philosophy  may  teach  the  requisite  principles  of 
science  to  the  surveyor,  civil  engineer,  and  mechanician. 
Other  branches  there  are  which  may  be  profitably  taught 
to  young  men  who  do  not  pursue  a  full  collegiate  course, 
such  as  History,  Moral  Science,  and  Political  Economy, 
and  these  may  be  attended  to  by  the  usual  professors  of  a 
College. 

In  addition  to  the  economy  of  uniting  under  the  same 
institution  two  courses  of  instruction,  there  will  be  many 
advantages  derived  from  associating  together  in  early 
life  those  who  are  afterwards  to  follow  different  occupa¬ 
tions  in  the  same  community.  A  prominent  one  is,  that 
this  system  will  have  a  tendency  to  give  greater  liberality 
and  enlargement  to  the  minds  of  all,  and  to  produce  a 


136  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


more  general  respect  for  science  and  letters,  and  a  more 
powerful  co-operation  in  promoting  this  cause,  which  is 
so  intimately  connected  not  only  with  the  dignity,  but 
also  with  the  happiness  and  prosperity  of  our  country. 

Such  is  the  general  plan  of  the  projected  College  at 
Geneva,  which,  while  it  may  give  a  preparatory  education 
to  those  intended  for  the  learned  professions,  will  also 
establish  a  system,  which,  as  respects  the  literary  and 
scientific  information  it  affords,  and  the  time  it  occupies, 
will  be  calculated  to  prepare  young  men  for  the  other 
walks  of  life. 

To  establish  a  College  upon  so  broad  a  foundation,  it  is 
obvious  that  a  considerable  amount  of  funds  is  desirable. 
For  in  addition  to  the  customary  college  buildings  and 
library,  an  extensive  chemical  and  philosophical  apparatus 
will  be  required,  and  also  a  small  farm  and  suitable  build¬ 
ings  for  the  purpose  of  experiments,  and  for  illustrating 
the  most  approved  system  of  husbandry. 

To  all,  therefore,  who  are  interested  in  the  great  cause 
of  education;  that  cause  so  intimately  connected  with  the 
extension  of  our  prosperity,  the  security  of  our  liberties, 
and  the  maintenance  of  our  moral  and  religious  character, 
an  earnest  request  is  made  that  they  would  seriously  weigh 
the  subject  matter  of  the  foregoing  pages,  and  having 
approved  the  design  unfolded  in  them,  that  they  would 
give  it  their  countenance  and  pecuniary  assistance. 

Geneva  College  does  not  ask  for  this  without  offering 
to  those  patrons  who  may  be  disposed  to  avail  themselves 
of  it,  what  will  be  esteemed  a  valuable  equivalent,  in 
addition  to  that  elevated  pleasure  which  every  intelligent 
and  good  man  must  feel  in  contributing  to  the  advance¬ 
ment  of  religion  and  learning.  In  proof  of  this  the 
conditions  of  subscription  are  here  stated: — 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


137 


CONDITIONS. 

1.  Any  person  who  shall  subscribe  and  pay  one  hundred 
dollars,  shall  have  the  right  of  sending  to  Geneva  Academy, 
or  Geneva  College,  for  the  term  of  twenty  years,  or  during 
his  or  her  natural  life,  one  student,  free  of  any  charge 
for  tuition  fees. 

2.  Any  person  who  shall  subscribe  and  pay  five  hundred 
dollars,  shall  have  the  right  to  send  two  students  for  the 
period  of  thirty  years,  or  during  his  or  her  natural  life, 
free  from  tuition  fees. 

3.  Any  congregation  or  society  that  shall  subscribe  and 
pay  one  thousand  dollars,  shall  have  the  privilege  of  send¬ 
ing  to  the  said  Academy  or  College,  one  student,  for  the 
period  of  fifty  years,  commencing  with  the  dates  of  pay¬ 
ment,  free  from  all  charges  of  tuition,  room  rent,  or  any 
other  tax  usually  assessed  by  similar  institutions. 

It  must  be  obvious  that  the  advantages  held  out  in 
these  conditions  to  the  patrons  of  the  College  are  very 
great.  They  are  secured  to  subscribers  by  a  certificate 
from  an  agent,  vested  with  full  powers  for  this  purpose. 
The  certificate  is  in  this  form — 

THIS  CERTIFIES,  That 

having  subscribed  and  paid  One  Hundred  Dollars  to  the 
Funds  of  Geneva  College,  is  himself,  his  heirs  and  assigns, 
entitled  to  the  privilege  of  sending  one  Student  to  the 
Geneva  Academy,  or  to  Geneva  College,  free  of  Tuition 
Fees,  for  Twenty  Years,  commencing  from  the  date 
hereof,  or  at  any  time  he  may  choose. 

Dated  at  the  day  of  182 

It  must  be  remarked  here,  that  the  form  of  this  certif¬ 
icate  was  adopted  by  the  Trustees  subsequent  to  the 


138  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


publication  of  the  conditions  of  subscription,  and  that  the 
privileges  it  ensures  are  much  greater  than  those  at 
first  promised.  The  certificate  is  made  transferable  proper¬ 
ty,  and  the  term  of  twenty  years  may  be  commenced  at 
any  time  according  to  the  pleasure  of  the  holder. 

To  enlarge  upon  the  advantages  thus  stated  must  be 
needless.  It  is  hoped  and  confidently  expected,  that  these, 
in  combination  with  more  disinterested  motives,  a  love 
of  religion  and  sound  learning,  and  a  pure  and  elevated 
ambition  to  be  instrumental  in  sustaining  these,  the  great 
supports  of  human  happiness,  and  dignity,  and  virtue, 
will  secure  a  liberal  endowment  for  Geneva  College. 


CHARTER 


OF 

HOBART  COLLEGE 


GRANTED  BY  THE 

REGENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  THE 

STATE  OF  NEW  YORK 


GENEVA  COLLEGE 

FEBRUARY  8th,  1825 


Amended  April  10,1852;  April  10,  1855;  March  27.  1860; 
February  5, 1863;  February  20,  1874  etc. 


STATE  OF  NEW  YORK 
Secretary’s  Office 

Recorded  in  Book  of  Deeds,  No.  41,  page  357,  etc.,  April  14,  1825. 

(Signed)  Arch’d  Campbell 


Dep.  Secretary 


By  the  Regents  of  the  University  of  the  State 
of  New  York. 

Whereas  the  Trustees  of  the  Geneva  Academy  did  by 
their  petition  presented  to  us,  on  the  eleventh  day  of  Febru¬ 
ary,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty-two,  repre¬ 
sent  among  other  things,  that  they  were  desirous  of  found¬ 
ing  a  College  by  engrafting  the  same  on  the  said  Academy 
at  or  near  the  site  of  said  Academy  in  the  Village  of 
Geneva,  in  the  County  of  Ontario,  and  that  for  the  ac¬ 
complishment  of  that  object  they  had  provided  consid¬ 
erable  funds,  and  were  about  providing  more  for  the 
same  purpose,  and  thereupon  praying  for  a  grant  from 
us  the  said  Regents  of  College  powers  to  take  effect 
at  the  expiration  of  three  years  thereafter,  provided  the 
said  petitioners  should  within  that  period  acquire  such 
permanent  funds  as  we  should  deem  sufficient  for  the 
endowment  of  such  College;  And  Whereas  after  due 
consideration  of  the  said  petition  and  the  object  therein 
prayed  for  we  did  on  the  tenth  day  of  April,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty-two, 
under  and  in  pursuance  of  the  Sixth  Section  of  the  Act 
entitled  “An  Act  relative  to  the  University,”  passed 
April  5,  1813,  signify  our  approbation  of  the  plan  on  which 
it  was  intended  to  found  said  College,  and  did  thereupon 
Ordain  and  Declare  that  if  the  said  petitioners  should 
within  the  space  of  three  years  thereafter  provide  and 
satisfactorily  secure  permanent  funds  for  the  use  and 
benefit  of  such  College  which  should  produce  a  clear  annu¬ 
al  revenue  of  four  thousand  dollars,  they  the  said  peti¬ 
tioners  should  on  exhibiting  evidence  satisfactory  to  us 
of  their  having  provided  and  secured  such  funds,  be  there¬ 


in 


142  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


upon  incorporated  by  us  as  a  College  according  to  the 
Laws  of  the  State  and  the  regulations  of  us,  the  said 
Regents;  And  Whereas  now7  at  this  day,  to  wit,  on  the 
eighth  day  of  February,  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  twenty-five,  the  said  Trustees  have  by  their 
petition  to  us  represented  that  they  have  fulfilled  the  con¬ 
ditions  on  which  they  were  by  our  said  ordinance,  in  that 
behalf  made  as  aforesaid,  to  be  incorporated  as  a  College, 
thereupon  praying  to  be  so  incorporated  by  us  accordingly; 
and  for  that  purpose  have  signified  to  us  that  the  name 
of  said  College  shall  be  “Geneva  College/ ’  and  have 
proposed  to  us  the  twenty-four  persons  hereinafter 
named  for  the  first  Trustees  thereof;  And  Whereas  it 
satisfactorily  appears  to  us,  that  funds  have  been  pro¬ 
vided  and  set  apart  for  the  endowment  and  support  of 
said  College  to  the  amount  of  sixty  thousand  dollars  and 
upwards,  producing  a  clear  annual  revenue  of  four  thou¬ 
sand  dollars  and  upwards;  which  said  fund  appears 
to  us  to  be  secured  in  as  safe  and  sufficient  a  manner  as 
can  reasonably  be  required;  And  Whereas  it  appears  to 
us  that  the  establishment  of  said  College  as  prayed  for 
by  the  said  petitioners  will  promote  the  cause  of  science 
and  redound  to  the  public  good,  and  the  same  being  in 
fulfilment  of  the  aforesaid  ordinance  heretofore  made 
by  us: 

Therefore  We,  the  said  Regents,  moved  by  the  consid¬ 
eration  of  the  premises,  and  in  virtue  of  the  power  in  us 
vested  by  Law,  have  authorized  and  empowered,  and 
by  these  presents  do  authorize  and  empower,  the  said 
Trustees  of  Geneva  Academy  to  appoint  a  President  and 
the  said  Academy  to  become  a  College  pursuant  to  Law, 
and  have  granted  and  declared,  and  by  these  presents 
do  grant  and  declare,  that  a  College  for  the  instruction 
and  education  of  youth  in  the  learned  languages  and 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


143 


liberal  arts  and  sciences  shall  be,  and  hereby  is  founded 
and  established  in  said  Village  of  Geneva;  that  the 
Trustees  of  said  College  shall  always  be  twenty-four  in 
number  and  that  James  Rees,  Samuel  Colt,  Orin  Clark, 
Daniel  McDonald,  Abraham  Dox,  William  S.  DeZeng, 
Elnathan  Noble,  Robert  S.  Rose,  Walter  Grieve,  David 
Cook,  James  Carter,  Henry  Axtell,  Herman  H.  Bogert, 
John  C  Spencer,  Philip  Church,  Bowen  Whiting,  David 
Hudson,  Thomas  D.  Burrall,  Henry  Seymour,  Elijah 
Miller,  Francis  H.  Cuming,  Jesse  Clark,  Henry  Anthon 
and  Lucius  Smith  shall  be  the  first  Trustees  of  said  Col¬ 
lege;  and  that  the  said  Trustees  and  their  successors 
shall  be  a  body  corporate  and  politic,  by  the  name  of 
“The  Trustees  of  Geneva  College,”  and  shall  have  per¬ 
petual  succession,  and  shall  be  capable  to  sue  and  be 
sued,  and  to  purchase,  take,  hold,  enjoy  and  have  lands, 
messuages,  tenements,  hereditaments  and  real  estate 
whatsoever  in  fee  simple,  or  for  term  of  life  or  lives,  or 
years,  or  in  any  other  manner  howsoever,  and  also  goods, 
chattels,  books,  monies,  annuities  and  all  other  things  of 
what  nature  or  kind  soever;  provided  always,  that  the  clear 
yearly  value  of  such  real  estate  shall  not  exceed  the  sum 
of  thirteen  thousand  three  hundred  and  thirty-three  dol¬ 
lars  and  one-third  of  a  dollar*  lawful  money  of  the  United 
States. 

And  the  said  Trustees  shall  have  power  to  ap¬ 
point  a  President  and  Professors  and  Tutors  to  have 
the  immediate  care  of  the  education  and  govern¬ 
ment  of  the  students  who  shall  be  sent  to  and  be  admit¬ 
ted  into  the  said  College  for  instruction  and  education, 
according  to  such  ordinances,  rules  and  orders  as  shall 
be  made  by  the  said  Trustees;  and  also  to  appoint  a 
Treasurer  and  Clerk,  and  all  other  needful  officers  and 


*As  Amended  Oct.  17,  1907:  fifty  thousand  dollars. 


144  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


ministers,  and  to  assign  to  them  their  respective  duties; 
and  also  from  time  to  time  to  make  such  ordinances,  rules 
and  orders  for  the  management  and  disposition  of  the 
lands  and  other  real  estate,  and  of  the  chattels  and  monies 
and  other  property  at  any  time  held  and  possessed  by 
them  the  said  Trustees  to  the  use  of  the  said  College, 
and  for  the  more  orderly  and  conveniently  perform¬ 
ing  and  executing  the  trusts  and  authorities  hereby 
granted  and  committed  to  them,  as  they  the  said  Trus¬ 
tees  (in  legal  meeting  convened)  shall  deem  most  fit  and 
beneficial,  and  also  all  such  ordinances,  rules  and  orders 
directing  and  appointing  what  books  shall  be  publicly 
read  and  taught  in  said  College,  and  for  the  better  gov¬ 
ernment  of  said  College  and  of  the  President,  Professors, 
Tutors  and  Students  thereof  as  they  the  said  Trustees 
think  best  for  the  general  good  of  the  same;  provided 
that  no  ordinance,  rule  or  order  to  be  made  by  the  said 
Trustees,  nor  any  appointment  of  a  President,  Professor 
or  Tutor  in  said  College,  nor  any  appointment  of  a  Treas¬ 
urer,  Clerk,  or  any  other  Officer  or  Minister  shall  have 
any  force  or  validity  unless  the  same  shall  be  agreed 
to  by  the  major  part  of  any  thirteen  or  more  of  them 
the  said  Trustees  duly  convened  and  met  together. 

And  Provided  further,  that  no  such  ordinance,  rule 
or  order  shall  be  repugnant  to  the  constitution  or  laws 
of  this  State  or  the  United  States;  neither  shall  any 
of  them  extend  to  exclude  any  person  of  any  relig¬ 
ious  denomination  whatever  from  equal  liberty  and 
advantage  of  education,  or  from  any  of  the  degrees, 
liberties,  privileges,  benefits  or  immunities  of  said  College, 
on  account  of  his  particular  tenets  in  religion;  And  Pro¬ 
vided  also,  that  every  such  ordinance,  rule  or  order 
whereby  the  punishment  of  expulsion,  suspension,  degra¬ 
dation  or  public  confession  shall  be  inflicted  on  any 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


145 


student  shall  be  put  in  execution  only  by  such  major 
part  of  any  thirteen  or  more  of  the  said  Trustees;  that  the 
President  of  said  College  shall  hold  his  office  for  and  dur¬ 
ing  his  good  behavior,  but  that  all  Professors  and  Tu¬ 
tors  and  every  Treasurer  and  Clerk,  and  all  other  Officers 
and  Ministers  of  said  College  shall  hold  their  respective 
offices  at  the  will  and  pleasure  of  the  said  Trustees. 

That  there  shall  be  two  meetings  of  the  said  Trustees  in 
the  said  Village  of  Geneva  every  year,  on  such  days  and 
at  such  place  as  the  said  Trustees  shall  by  ordinances  to 
be  by  them  from  time  to  time  made  in  that  behalf,  ap¬ 
point,  to  be  denominated  stated  meetings;  and  until  the 
said  Trustees  shall  have  made  an  ordinance  appointing  the 
day  and  place  of  such  stated  meetings,  the  same  shall  be 
held  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  August  and  on  the  first 
Wednesday  in  February  in  each  year,  and  in  the  building 
hitherto  called  the  Academy;  that  whenever  any  special 
meeting  of  the  said  Trustees  shall  be  deemed  necessary , 
the  Senior  Trustee  then  residing  in  said  Village,  and  taking 
upon  himself  the  exercise  of  the  office,  shall  upon  an  appli¬ 
cation  for  that  purpose  in  writing  under  the  hands  of  any 
five  or  more  of  the  said  Trustees,  appoint  a  time  for  said 
special  meeting  at  some  convenient  place  in  said  Village, 
and  cause  due  notice  thereof  to  be  given  by  advertising 
the  same  in  one  or  more  of  the  public  newspapers  printed 
in  the  aforesaid  County  nearest  to  said  College,  at  least 
twenty  days  before  such  meeting;  and  at  such  meeting 
such  Senior  Trustee  before  entering  on  any  business 
shall  certify  such  notification  to  the  Trustees  then  met; 
that  whenever  the  said  Trustees  shall  be  met  together  at 
any  meeting,  the  Senior  Trustee  then  present  shall  preside 
at  such  meeting;  that  the  seniority  intended  in  these  two 
several  cases  shall  be  determined  according  to  the  order 
in  which  the  said  Trustees  are  herein  named,  and  shall 


146  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


be  hereafter  elected,  and  not  less  than  thirteen  Trustees 
shall  form  a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of  any  business. 

That  the  said  Trustees  shall  also  have  power  at  any 
meeting  duly  convened,  to  elect  and  appoint  upon  the 
death,  removal  out  of  the  State,  or  other  vacancy  of  the 
place  or  places  of  any  Trustee  or  Trustees,  other  or  others 
in  his  or  their  place  or  stead,  as  often  as  such  vacancy 
shall  happen,  and  also  to  make  and  declare  vacant  the  seat 
of  any  Trustee  who  shall  absent  himself  from  five  successive 
meetings  of  the  Board.  But  no  professor  or  tutor  of 
said  College,  or  member  of  the  Faculty  thereof,  other  than 
the  President  thereof  shall  ever  be  eligible  to  the  office 
of  Trustee.  That  the  said  Trustees  may  by  the  Presi¬ 
dent  of  the  said  College,  or  any  other  person  by  them  auth¬ 
orized  or  appointed,  give  and  grant  any  such  degree  and 
degrees  to  all  such  persons  thought  by  them  worthy 
thereof,  as  are  known  to  and  usually  granted  by  any 
University  or  College  in  Europe.  That  the  said  Trustees 
shall  and  may  have  a  common  seal  under  which  they 
shall  and  may  pass  all  grants,  diplomas  and  all  other 
writings  whatsoever,  requisite  or  convenient  to  pass 
under  such  seal,  and  which  shall  be  engraven  in  such 
form  and  with  such  devices  and  inscription  as  shall  be 
agreed  upon  by  the  said  Trustees,  and  to  alter  the  same 
at  their  pleasure. 

In  Testimony  Whereof,  We  have  caused  these  presents 
to  be  signed  by  our  Chancellor,  and  our  Common  Seal  to 

be  affixed  thereto  this  eighth  day  of  Feb- 
L.  S.  ruary  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  twenty-five. 

Attest :  (Signed) 

Gideon  Hawley,  John  Taylor, 

Secretary.  Chancellor. 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


147 


An  Act  to  Change  the  Name  of  Geneva  College 

Passed  April  10,  1852. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York  represented  in 
Senate  and  Assembly  do  enact  as  follows: 

Section  1.  The  name  of  Geneva  College  in  the 
County  of  Ontario  is  hereby  changed  to  Hobart  Free 
College  at  Geneva,  by  which  name  it  will  hereafter  be 
known  and  called:  but  the  Medical  Department  of  that 
Institution  shall  continue  to  be  known  and  designated 
as  the  Medical  Institution  of  Geneva  College. 

Sec.  2.  This  Act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 


An  Act  to  Amend  the  Charter  of  Hobart  Free  College 

Passed  April  10,  1855. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York  represented  in 
Senate  and  Assembly  do  enact  as  follows: 

Section  1.  Nine  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
of  Hobart  Free  College  are  hereby  declared  to  be  a  law¬ 
ful  quorum  of  said  board  for  the  transaction  of  business. 

Sec.  2.  No  act  of  said  board  of  Trustees  shall  be  valid 
unless  the  same  shall  have  been  passed  by  the  affirma¬ 
tive  vote  of  at  least  seven  members  of  the  said  board  of 
Trustees. 

Sec.  3.  This  Act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 


By  the  Regents  of  the  University  of  the  State  of  New 
York. 

The  Trustees  of  “Hobart  Free  College  at  Geneva,”  an 
institution  subject  to  the  visitation  of  the  Regents  of 
the  University  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  originally 


148  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


incorporated  by  the  said  Regents  under  the  name  of  the 
Trustees  of  Geneva  College,  having  applied  under  their 
common  seal  to  the  said  Regents  for  authority  further 
to  change  the  name  of  the  said  institution,  and  that  it 
be  hereafter  known  as  “Hobart  College,’ ’  and  the  said 
application  having  been  considered,  and  appearing  to 
the  said  Regents  to  be  reasonable;  They  the  said  Re¬ 
gents  do  therefore  in  pursuance  of  the  authority  vested 
in  them  by  law,  Ordain,  determine  and  declare  that  the 
said  Institution  shall  hereafter  be  known  as,  and  its  cor¬ 
porate  name  shall  be  “Hobart  College;”  that  the  char¬ 
ter  thereof  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  amended  accord¬ 
ingly;  and  that  this  ordinance  do  take  effect  immediate- 

ly> 

In  witness  whereof  the  common  seal  of  the  said  Re¬ 
gents  is  hereunto  affixed  and  their  Chancellor  and  Sec¬ 
retary  have  hereunto  subscribed  their  names 

L.  S.  this  27th  day  of  March  in  the  year  one  thou¬ 
sand  eight  hundred  and  sixty. 

(Signed)  G.  Y.  Lansing,  Chancellor. 

S.  B.  Woolworth,  Secretary. 


By  the  Regents  of  the  University  of  the  State  of  New 
York. 

Whereas  the  Trustees  of  Hobart  (formerly  Geneva) 
College,  an  Institution  incorporated  by,  and  subject  to  the 
visitation  of  the  said  Regents,  have  presented  their  ap¬ 
plication  to  the  said  Regents,  representing  that  the 
provisions  of  their  Charter,  granted  on  the  eighth  day 
of  February,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty- 
five,  relative  to  calling  special  meetings  by  the  said 
Trustees,  and  as  to  the  person  to  preside  at  the  meet- 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


149 


ings  of  the  Board,  have  been  found  inconvenient  in 
practice,  and  praying  for  an  amendment  thereof  in  that 
respect,  and  the  said  Regents  having  considered  the 
premises  do,  in  pursuance  of  the  authority  in  them  by 
law  vested,  grant,  ordain  and  declare  that  the  Charter 
of  the  said  College  shall  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  amend¬ 
ed  as  follows: 

First.  The  Trustees  of  the  said  College  shall  have 
power  to  elect  annually  at  such  time  as  may  be  fixed  by 
their  by-laws  one  of  their  number  as  Chairman  of  the 
Board,  who  shall  preside  at  all  meetings  of  the  Trustees 
and  hold  his  office  until  his  successor  shall  be  appointed. 
In  the  absence  of  the  Chairman  from  any  meeting,  the 
Senior  Trustee  present  shall  preside. 

Second.  In  addition  to  the  two  stated  meetings  of  the 
Board,  to  be  held  in  each  year,  as  provided  by  the  Charter, 
the  Trustees  may  meet  upon  their  own  adjournment  and 
as  often  as  they  shall  be  summoned  by  their  Chairman,  or 
in  his  absence  by  the  Senior  Trustee,  on  the  request  in 
writing  of  any  other  three  Trustees. 

Third.  Notice  of  the  time  and  place  of  every  meet¬ 
ing  of  the  Trustees  shall  be  given  in  a  newspaper  printed 
in  the  village  of  Geneva,  in  the  County  of  Ontario,  being 
the  County  in  which  the  said  College  is  situated,  at  least 
six  days  before  the  day  of  meeting,  and  every  Trustee 
resident  in  the  said  County  shall  be  previously  notified 
in  writing  for  the  like  period  of  the  time  and  place  of 
such  meeting.  Trustees  residing  elsewhere  shall  be 
notified  in  like  manner  by  post. 

Fourth.  Seniority  among  the  said  Trustees  shall  be 
determined  according  to  the  order  in  which  they  were 
named  in  the  Charter  of  the  said  College  or  in  which  they 
were  afterwards  elected. 


150  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


And  the  said  Regents  do  hereby  Ordain  and  declare 
that  these  presents  shall  take  effect  immediately,  and 
also  reserve  the  right  at  any  time  to  alter,  amend  or 
repeal  the  same. 

In  witness  whereof  the  said  Regents  have  caused  their 
common  seal  to  be  hereunto  affixed,  and  their  Chancel¬ 
lor  and  Secretary  to  subscribe  their  names  hereto 
L.  S.  this  fifth  day  of  February,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-three. 


(Signed) 

John  V.  L.  Pruyn, 
Chancellor  of  the  University. 


S.  B.  Woolworth, 
Secretary. 


An  Act  to  Amend  the  Charter  of  Hobart  (late  Geneva) 

College 

Passed  Feb.  20,  1874,  three-fifths  being  present. 

(Chapter  21,  Laws  of  1874) 

The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York,  represented  in 
Senate  and  Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows: 

Section  1.  The  Charter  of  Hobart  (late  Geneva) 
College  is  hereby  amended  by  striking  out  so  much  of  the 
Charter  as  reads  “That  the  said  Trustees  shall  also  have 
power,  at  any  meeting  duly  convened,  to  elect  and  ap¬ 
point,  upon  the  death,  removal  out  of  the  State,  or  other 
vacancy  of  the  place  or  places  of  any  Trustee  or  Trus¬ 
tees,  other  or  others  in  his  or  their  place  or  stead,  as 
often  as  such  vacancies  shall  happen,  and  also  to  make 
and  declare  vacant  the  seat  of  any  Trustee  who  shall 
absent  himself  from  five  successive  meetings  of  the  Board,” 
and  by  inserting  in  the  place  thereof  the  following  pro¬ 
visions,  namely: 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


151 


“From  and  after  the  second  stated  meeting  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  appointed  to  be  held  in  eighteen  hun¬ 
dred  and  seventy-four,  said  board  shall  consist  of  the 
President  of  the  College  ex-officio ,  the  Bishop  of  that  Dio¬ 
cese  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  which  includes 
the  College  within  its  boundaries,  ex-officio ,  and  twenty 
others.  At  the  first  meeting  of  the  board  of  Trustees 
held  after  the  passage  of  this  amendment,  the  Trustees 
(other  than  the  President  of  the  College  and  the  Bishop 
as  aforesaid)  shall  divide  themselves  by  lot  into  five 
classes  of  four  in  each  class.  The  term  of  office  of  one  of 
such  classes  shall  expire  on  the  day  appointed  for  the 
second  stated  meeting  of  the  board  in  the  year  eighteen 
hundred  and  seventy -four;  of  another  of  such  classes  on 
the  corresponding  day  of  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and 
seventy-five;  of  another  of  such  classes  on  the  corre¬ 
sponding  day  of  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy- 
six;  of  another  of  such  classes  on  the  corresponding  day 
of  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-seven;  of 
another  of  such  classes  on  the  corresponding  day  of 
the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-eight;  provided, 
however,  that  every  Trustee  shall  hold  office  until  his 
successor  is  elected  and  accepts.  At  said  first  meeting 
after  the  passage  of  this  amendment  the  said  board 
shall  determine  by  lot  the  order  in  which  the  several 
classes  shall  go  out  of  office,  as  aforesaid,  and  if  there 
be  more  than  twenty  of  such  Trustees,  the  excess  shall 
be  added  to  the  class  going  out  of  office  in  eighteen  hun¬ 
dred  and  seventy-four.  At  the  second  stated  annual 
meeting  in  each  year,  beginning  with  the  year  eighteen 
hundred  and  seventy-four,  three  Trustees  shall  be  elected 
by  the  board  who  shall  hold  office  until  the  second  stated 
meeting  in  the  fifth  year  from  their  election  and  until 
their  successors  are  elected  and  have  accepted.  All 
elections  of  Trustees  shall  be  by  ballot. 


152  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 


“The  alumni  of  the  College  may,  in  each  year,  elect 
one  person  from  among  their  own  number,  who  shall  be 
qualified  to  vote  at  such  election,  to  the  office  of  Trus¬ 
tee.  All  alumni  of  five  years  standing  who  have  received 
in  course  the  degree  of  bachelor  of  science,  and  all  alumni 
who  have  received  in  course  the  degree  of  master  of  arts, 
may  have  a  vote  at  such  election,  but  in  other  respects 
the  Trustees  may,  by  by-law,  regulate,  from  time  to 
time,  the  mode  in  which  such  election  shall  be  made  and 
authenticated  to  them.  No  election  shall  be  made, 
except  at  a  meeting  at  which  at  least  thirty  qualified 
voters  shall  be  present,  and  if  such  a  number  be  not 
present,  the  election  shall  lapse  to  the  Trustees;  but 
it  shall  be  the  privilege  of  the  alumni,  in  such  case,  to 
nominate  three  of  their  number,  from  whom  the  Trus¬ 
tees  shall  make  their  choice  for  the  vacancy,  provided 
that  at  least  twenty  qualified  voters  of  the  alumni  are 
present  to  make  such  nomination.  If  less  than  twenty 
alumni  be  present,  the  Trustees  may  fill  the  vacancy  by 
electing  any  alumnus  of  the  College.  Such  Trustee 
shall  hold  office  until  the  second  stated  meeting  in  the 
fifth  year  from  his  election  and  until  his  successor  is 
elected  and  accepts. 

“Whenever  any  vacancy,  by  death,  removal  out  of  the 
State,  or  otherwise,  shall  occur  in  the  board,  the  Trus¬ 
tees  shall  have  power  to  fill  the  vacancy,  and  the  person 
who  may  be  elected  to  fill  such  vacancy  shall  hold  office 
for  the  unexpired  term  of  the  Trustee  in  whose  place 
he  was  elected.  The  Trustees  shall  also  have  power  to 
make  and  declare  vacant  the  seat  of  any  Trustee  who  shall 
absent  himself  from  five  successive  meetings  of  the  board.” 

Sec.  2.  This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 


DOCUMENTARY  APPENDIX 


153 


Extracts  from  Official  Minutes  of  the  Regents  of  the 
University  of  the  State  of  New  York 

HOBART  COLLEGE . — That  the  change  in  the  charter 
of  Hobart  College  voted  June  13,  1890,  be  amended  to 
read  as  follows: 

“All  alumni  who  are  graduates  in  the  arts  or  sciences 
of  three  years’  standing,  and  all  graduates  in  special 
studies  of  three  years’  standing  holding  such  certificates 
as  may  have  been  prepared  by  the  faculty,  with  the 
approval  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  shall  be  entitled  to 
vote  either  in  person  or  by  letter,  and  the  Trustees  may, 
by  by-law,  regulate,  from  time  to  time,  the  mode  in 
which  such  election  shall  be  made  and  authenticated  to 
them  except  as  hereinafter  provided.  The  candidate 
receiving  the  highest  number  of  lawful  votes  shall  be 
deemed  elected,  provided  he  shall  be  an  alumnus  of 
Hobart  College  of  at  least  five  years’  standing,  and  pro¬ 
vided  also  that  at  least  30  lawful  votes  in  all  shall  have 
been  cast.  In  case  a  less  number  of  votes  than  30  be 
cast  the  election  shall  lapse  to  the  Trustees,  who  may 
fill  the  vacancy  by  electing  any  alumnus  of  the  College.” 

Voting  by  letter  shall  be  under  the  following  regu¬ 
lations  : 

1.  All  nominations  of  candidates  for  the  office  of 
alumnus  Trustee,  shall  be  made  in  writing,  signed  by  the 
qualified  voter  making  the  nomination,  to  the  secretary 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  on  or  before  May  1  of  each 
year.  The  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  shall  in 
conjunction  with  the  registrar  of  the  College,  examine 
and  determine  whether  the  persons  nominated  are  eligi¬ 
ble  for  election. 

2.  Between  May  1  and  May  10,  the  secretary  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  shall  mail  to  each  qualified  elector 


154  HOBART:  THE  STORY  OF  A  HUNDRED  YEARS 

whose  postoffice  address  can  be  obtained,  a  copy  of  the 
official  list  of  candidates,  the  list  to  recite  the  name, 
College  class  and  postoffice  address  of  each  candidate. 

3.  Qualified  voters  wishing  to  vote  by  letter  shall 
fill  out  a  form  to  be  sent  by  the  secretary  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  with  the  official  list  as  before  provided,  said 
form  to  be  as  follows: 

“I - class  of - whose  present  postoffice 

is - do  hereby  vote  for - class  of - 

as  Trustee  of  Hobart  College  for  the  term  of  five  years 
beginning  with  the  next  stated  meeting.” 

This  form  having  been  filled  out  and  attested  before  a 
notary  public  or  any  officer  qualified  to  take  acknowl¬ 
edgments,  shall  be  enclosed  in  an  envelope  which  shall 
be  sealed  and  addressed  to  the  secretary  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  Hobart  College  and  on  the  face  of  such  en¬ 
velope  shall  appear  the  statement,  “From - 

class - ,  ballot  for  Alumnus  Trustee. ”  No  ballot 

not  so  enclosed  shall  be  voted. 

4.  As  soon  as  the  polls  are  open  for  the  electors  of 
an  Alumnus  Trustee,  the  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Trus¬ 
tees  or  a  teller  appointed  by  them,  shall  in  the  presence 
of  a  teller  appointed  by  the  alumni,  open  each  envel¬ 
ope  and  depsit  th  e  enclosed  ballot.  All  letters 
received  from  persons  not  qualified  to  vote  shall  be  de¬ 
livered  unopened  to  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

A  true  copy.  Attest :  Albert  B.  Watkins 

Asst.  Sec’y 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


3  01 


2 105551383 


HOBART 

COLLEGE  BULLETINS 
VOLUME  XX,  3s,  APRIL,  19*2 

...  M  .  ' 

Published  Quarterly  at  Geneva,  N.  Y.  Entered  as 

•<  > 

Second  (£lass  Matter  October  28,  1902,  at 
Geneva,  Under  the  Act  of 
Jnly  16,  1894 

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■  ■  1.  t  •  •  ! 


Wt*s*  Qf  9.  M»**.*..  V. 


